Dakota looks to tighten its belt bit more

The results of Dakota County's efforts to cut $6.4 million from its 2010 budget may not seem particularly dramatic to the average resident.

A hiring freeze that began months ago prevented staff layoffs or furloughs. The county tax levy will be the same as 2009. The county commissioners' salaries aren't expected to increase; they froze those at 2008 levels a year ago.

But multimillion-dollar budget cuts can't be made without someone -- county residents or county staff -- noticing some effect.

Finance Director Matt Smith used a restaurant comparison to explain the $366.5 million budget to the county board: "We can say we're still maintaining the current menu. Some of the portions may be a little bit smaller and some of the dishes are going to come out of the kitchen a bit slower, but it's still the same menu."

A truth-in-taxation hearing will be held Dec. 3, and the board will vote on the 2010 budget Dec. 15.

The 2010 budget proposal eliminates 55 already vacant positions across a variety of county departments, a list that includes appraisers, librarians, sheriff's deputies and administrative staff.

The Community Services Division, the collection of county departments that deliver services aimed at keeping residents healthy and self-sufficient, would lose 20 vacant positions. And within that division, other jobs would be shuffled around to help the most stressed departments -- particularly employment and economic assistance -- keep up with rapidly growing caseloads.

Employment and economic assistance applications have been pouring in to the county at the rate of 220 a month. Applications for food stamps and medical assistance are the primary drivers of the increase.

There's 'a new reality'

Staff have been working overtime, sometimes on Saturdays, to process the applications. And the 2010 proposed budget also calls for a transfer of some public health staff to the Employment and Economic Assistance Department to keep up with the more than 3,000 anticipated new cases next year.

"We're talking about resizing, recognizing a new reality," Commissioner Kathleen Gaylord said, noting during a recent discussion of board priorities that staff members are going to be stressed. "In some areas, it's almost to the point of mental illness. We should have a goal to recognize it stresses our employees and help them with resources to maintain their sanity."

Richardson praised staff for coming up with a budget proposal that meets the county's fiscal goals, based on planning meetings that began in January. He said it allows the county to continue aiming for the lowest tax rate in the state and the distinction of having the fewest staff per capita in the Twin Cities metro area.

"We have this history of efficiency and accomplishment, but we face incredible challenges in the next couple of years," Richardson said, noting the troubled economy and the uncertainty of state aid after Gov. Tim Pawlenty chose to "unallot" some of it this year.

In addition to axing the vacant positions, the county has cut money for training and delayed some building projects.

Additions to the judicial center, the law enforcement center and the western service center have been delayed three years. Plans for a public safety support center have been dropped for now.

The financial staff has also suggested some structural changes to the budget, moving half of the expected state aid from county operations to the capital budget. That move is meant to guard against possible state aid unallotments in the future by using more reliable sources of income for day-to-day county operations.