With a looming $6 million budget shortfall and another possible $11 million in cost shifts from the state Legislature, the Yavapai County supervisors will roll up their sleeves and sharpen their pencils for a special budget meeting on March 24.
As the budget process gets under way for the 2011 fiscal year beginning July 1, county staff will ask the board for direction on possible areas to cut, said Administrator Julie Ayers.
"To find that money there's going to be very tough decisions," Ayers said. "We are required to pass a balanced budget."
However, much of the fat has already been trimmed from the county's operations, she said. About 80 percent of the budget goes toward personnel costs despite a hiring freeze in effect since 2008. Currently, the county has 120 fewer employees than two years ago, and workers have not received merit or cost-of-living raises. Also, all out-of-state travel must be approved, and officials closed the jail in Prescott to save money.
After Ayers presents a budget overview, a discussion of possible departmental reorganization will ensue, with an eye toward reducing expenditures, she said.
Last year, slightly more than half of the county's general fund budget of $77.7 million went toward courts and law enforcement. Much of the remainder of the $251 million budget serves as a pass through for various dedicated state and federal funds.
On the revenue side, property taxes pay for 44 percent of the county budget, 22 percent comes from state shared sales taxes and money from a half-cent county sales tax comprises another 14 percent.
For the first time in recent memory property values in the county fell by 3 percent in the most recent assessment. By law the supervisors could increase the real estate tax rate by 2 percent plus new construction.
The meeting is set for 9 a.m. on March 24 at the county building, 1015 Fair Street in Prescott.
Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, March 25, 2010
Article comment by:
To Accountability
Put your money where your mouth is. What department did you work in and how were you able to supervise the internet use of all county employees? You must have had a sweet job description.
Posted: Monday, March 15, 2010
Article comment by:
Accountability....NOT NOT
To a County Employee-You are wrong, after a year of working 19 hours per week you can make any amount and still collect a six figure retirement. I don't need to try to make the County employees look bad...they take care of that themselves. You could lay off half the work force, force the rest to actually work 8 hours a day and they would still have time to chit chat and surf the internet.
Posted: Monday, March 15, 2010
Article comment by:
a county employee
To Accountability: If you go AZ retirement web site no one making 98.000 per can draw a bigger pension then salary. Nice try to make the employees look bad. Get your facts right. LOL
Why pick on law enforcement these guys risk their lives for us and haven't seen a raise in 3 years, they come to you when you need them, what will you do when they're not there for you? have some respect people alot of these deputies do it cause it's their passion, respect that. Don't knock it if you don't know what it's all about.
Posted: Monday, March 15, 2010
Article comment by:
common sense conservative
Another quote from the article above: “However, much of the fat has already been trimmed from the county's operations, she said.” That means even she knows there is more fat to cut. On regulating and taxing marijuana...keep this idea on the table, but I would be looking for ALL the fat plus a little more to be gone before providing another source of revenue for the bureaucrats to spend. Besides, you will be adding another arm of bureaucracy and more bureaucrats to screw that up...and at least during the startup phase there will still be the criminal effort trying to circumvent it or even trying to become part of it! Referring to the article...if “property tax” and “real estate tax” are one in the same, a 2% tax hike would only yield about $2.2M + new construction, whatever that would be. Does that sound about right? Any ideas on what the total hit would look like? Just would like to know..am NOT for it! And then there is that shortfall of 6 million PLUS another possible $11M in cost shifts. Looks like they will be looking to close up to a $17M gap. I read that “cost shift” to be decentralization. Anybody know for what effort? Will go silent now and ponder this some more.
Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010
Article comment by:
Accountability.....NOT NOT
I've worked for the County and the waste is unbelievable! You have a Capital Improvement Coordinator making $98,000 per year on top of a six figure retirement. They borrowed $25 million with $65,000 per month interest to build buildings they don't need, especially in this economic environment, just so the supervisors can get their name on a plaque. The County adminstrator has a $90,000 per year budget manager when she should be doing the job herself. Several (7) high paid engineers who contract out most jobs. They should be doing the Capital Improvements job. Everyone has the internet and most surf the better part of the day. All departments have built top heavy empires during the housing boom. I say NO MORE TAXES to this cancer. Cut your kingdoms down and manage your budgets like the rest of us.
Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010
Article comment by:
common sense conservative
Copied and pasted from the article above: “On the revenue side, property taxes pay for 44 percent of the county budget, 22 percent comes from state shared sales taxes and money from a half-cent county sales tax comprises another 14 percent. “ These sources of revenue account for only 80% of the 251M budget. Where's the other 20%?? Twenty percent (20%) of $250M = 50 Million Dollars! Am I missing something?? Yes, I'd like an answer, even if I made a stupid mistake...thanks!
Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010
Article comment by:
common sense conservative
Here we go again. For starters, you can review the budget reports for Yavapai County at http://www.co.yavapai.az.us/coadmin.aspx. If that isn't what you are looking for, post back. This article is likely to fall into obscurity by being replace with others, but I am willing to follow the posts where ever they go. Let's try to get a handle on this!
Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010
Article comment by:
Mike Worth
That point may be valid, notwithstanding that Law Enforcement's budget draw is so high because it benefits them as an entity, not us as private citizens. My brother-in-law is a LEO and he sees first hand the misappropriation of money. He is NOT overpaid, although the funds that circulate through the various divisions is very disconcerting to learn. There is unnecessary waste of man power and resources. The court system bears this same agenda. The only way it would subside is through a decrease in funding. The mandates must change. Sanity and compassion would also be brought back in the process. You would be surprised to observe that crime would not be affected adversly if this happened. The politics always use that as a manipulation to the public, as if rioting and looting would commence if the resources were cut down. If private citizen were allowed to review the books they would be astonished, to say the least. It's not always a travesty to cut back. It's called 'decentralization', and it can help keep groups honest. Private citizens should not remain idle and unaware. And they definately shouldn't act as if they know something they really know nothing about. That is dangerous on so many levels.
Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010
Article comment by:
Mark Young
Law Enforcement wouldn't be a problem if it didn't take up so much of the budget. And look at their outrageous pensions! It is ridiculous. That is exactly why California went down the drain. You can't afford to throw out that much money (85%), to a pension. It was destined to fail. California became over-policed and over-paid. If an intelligent private citizen looked over the county budget they could see how much money funnels into that department. It is excessive. Clearly. Necessary yes, but massive cutbacks in that department are way,way overdue. And as far as marijuana. How about - Age appropriate, cannot operate vehicles, nor equipment while under the influence. Just like alcohol or prescriptions. The statistics for marijuana related accidents are almost non-existent anyway. Responsible people don't often make those mistakes, whether they smoke it or not. So far keeping it illegal has not kept the majority of people away from it. So I doubt any statistics would change., except crime. That would drop considerably.
Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010
Article comment by:
Ralph Kyner
Mike, Look at Taxpayer's comments. Specifically those directed at law enforcement. Seeing as how he has posted here three times and all his posts seem to condemn law enforcement in general, I would go so far as to say he may have had some problems with the law. Problems he created and problems they solved. Taxpayer's solutions seem to benefit him.
Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010
Article comment by:
WOW WOW
I think it's funny how everyone slams Law Enforcement. Everyone whines about this and that. But in the end who are you going to call, wait let me think "LAW ENFORCEMENT" imagine that... You people need them because you can't live like adults and take care of yourself, and you can't take care of your own children because you can't handle them, a dog barks,,call the cops, a funny noise outside, call the cops, someone is fighting, call the cops...If everyone is so anti Police...Handle it yourself if that's the way you feel!!!!! And to touch on the marijuana legalization. I agree with that. BUT....with that comes once again DUI's....hmmmm... Joe decides he's going to smoke, impairing his judgment, and drive. So Joe drives and slams into Mary who's still in High School and puts her in the hospital....Might want to rethink the legalization process.....
Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Article comment by:
William Wallace
I wish Julie Ayers was coming to one of us for suggestions of how to cut the budget. I agree with Taxpayer about the petty offenses. Maybe good will come out of this budget crisis. It was wrong to punish people so severely for such petty offenses even when we could afford it. My major gripe for over a year, has been the issue of building a justice center on Sundog Ranch Road, with a new jail, when we can't even fill the Camp Verde jail... even though we are putting people in jail for being poor, or arguing with their spouse, or being late to pay their automobile insurance, even breaking something that belongs to you can land you in jail for criminal damage. Maybe good will come out of this... If for no other reason we cannot continue to afford the tyranny of the Yavapai County Attorney's Office.
Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Article comment by:
Mike Worth
I meant to say-(And perhaps LEARN something in that silence).
Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Article comment by:
Mike Worth
Why is it there is always some discourteous aberrant voice(ralph kyner) that steps into a conversation with nothing more than empty, however, aggravating and unnecessary sardonic comments. They are as useless as the politicians we have. Atleast the taxpayer is thinking towards a solution. Which is more then I can say... (I will refrain from any discourtesy). I immediately felt the contempt from yourself that you alleged was 'reeking' from another. It's unfortunate that some people are unable to hold their tongues when it is clearly appropriate.
A new precept- If you have nothing valuable to say, say nothing at all.(and perhaps something in that silence)
Have a wonderful rest of the day anyway.
Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Article comment by:
Mark Young
AND., decriminalize marijuana. That aspect of our social society is now the majority. The only choice now is to convince legislature by way of vote to allow state government to control and tax a commodity that is overwhelmingly present within our state anyways. Then use money saved from law enforcement and court expenses to educate the youth, perhaps even in school, about all the dangers in substances so they don't try to educate themselves through curiosity. Our law enforcement and court budget expenses wouldn't be so high if the money went to the education system for our youth. Crime would drop tremendously because cartels would lose over 50 percent of their income. Terry Goddard knows this solution. Out with Jan Brewer, out with John McCain, out with Arpio, Dean Martin, Sheila Polk, Hanna, etc, etc. A new and better future can only come from new and better minds in our leaders. Leaders that the common man, with a hope for a better future, vote into that position.
Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Article comment by:
Ralph Kyner
Taxpayer, I do not know where you get your figures, but your ideas reek of contempt. I think you may have 'brain stormed' too much with Rita Stricker or had a nasty fall or something. To be sure there are places to cut back in all departments, and there have already been several cutbacks made. As far as arrests go, Law enforcement MUST arrest on certain misdemeanor charges. That is the law, they are Law Enforcers... Maybe you should ask them about it next time you get arrested.
Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Article comment by:
Taxpayer Again
okay, I've been thinking about this article all day. I have a plan. Place a moratorium on arresting misdemeanors. Yeah we must arrest drunk drivers but all other misdemeanors just write them a ticket or summons or some such and don't clog the jail with nitwit small fry, low hanging fruit variety thugs. When they answer their summons let them mow the baseball fields, wash the county's multi-million dollar motor pool and wash the court house windows. Lay off the county employees who normally do these jobs. The federal government will pay them a grand a month to sit home and watch Oprah. With the small fry out of the jail then half the turn-keys can be laid off too. They can watch "Cops" and maybe learn how to move up in the organization if they ever get called back. With the misdemeanants out of the picture you can lay off half the pencil pushing plea bargainers AKA assistant prosecuting attorneys. They need to learn how to practice law anyway instead of just filling out forms. Turn the Development Services people into an "advisory" group instead of the Gestapo they've morphed into. Did anyone notice that since Tom Thurman former president of the Yavapai Contractors Association, became a supervisor, the prospect of simple home improvements mushroomed to a point that one may not do so without an engineer and a licensed contractor. This added at least fifty per cent to the simplest jobs. All you taxpayers have been asleep at the wheel too long. This is the best chance in a generation to bring this monster under control-or go on watching the soap operas and complaining to your neighbor over the back fence. It's your fault taxpayers, you let it get to this point, only you can stop it.
Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Article comment by:
HUSD to send Staff members to Florida in June 2010
At least someone is attempting to plan. Humboldt Schools are still pretending nothing is getting cut. Will someone stop these people. First, build a pool, and then send the chosen ones to Florida. This makes me sick.
Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Article comment by:
mark young
Decriminalizing and taxing marijuana will close the gap and add almost a billion to the state budget. 54 percent of the public approve it's state control and taxation. That's the change needed for city and state governments.
Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Article comment by:
Tired of threatened tax increases --------------
I will be voting against the state sales tax increase. I suggest that the county supervisors find a way to balance the budget without a tax increase. We have too much unemployment in Arizona as a whole and Yavapai County in particular. I don't feel sorry for city, county, state or federal employees that don't get colas or merit increases. They have a job.
It is time our bureaucrats and elected officials enter the real world. Don't look for sympathy or increased taxes. Do your job. Balance the budget with the funds you have
Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Article comment by:
tom 1
To Mike: As a person who has been self employed 90% of my life and now rertired. The only problem I have with people like you is no matter what a bad job the republicans did at the state level you can not admit it. I see no good in either party but lets lay the blame where it belongs. I stoped voting for anything other then bond issuse becouse you can put them all in a can and still come out with nothing. You now want someone to fix problems with no money. Well good luck. I think the leaders at the state as bunch of cowards. This state is doomed to failure unless changes happen.
Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Article comment by:
Mike Worth
Spoken like a true beaurocrat Tom 1. Why don't we leave you to decide the productivity of the Goverment worker and how much should be taken out of the private sector inorder to pay for it. What Department are you in? You can blame the State Government to a degree, but it was their inflated subsidizing that spoiled and corrupted the county Governments in the first place. There is a difference in a county providing a service(Public Safety) and paying bills, to flat out wasting the money on entirely to many law enforcement officers per capita. Regretfully, even now a delayed response time is more accountable to an officer not wanting to leave the station in the rain, rather then a shortage of staff. Listen to the agencies dispatch frequencies to determine it for yourself. Although the field officers should be congratulated far more for their productivity than the plain-clothes rotations, of which are similar much to the city worker leaning on his shovel as he socializes with everyone within his range, then expects his 40hr compensation. Positions are created out of thin air during large subsidy and economic growth. These positions must disappear on the flip side of that coin. Taxes are necessary, but spending reduction holds the priority in that disparity.
These deficit reduction agreements always tend to be tax increase oriented, not spending- cut oriented. That needs to stop and everyone needs to realize it. I'm sure for many it is an abstract concept to understand. But once realized, it is the only way to actually close the gap. The beaurocrats like Tom don't want this modus operendi to be recognized. The anti-spending option would be considered anti-American to the Government workers. Or so they would like to exclaim.
This has to be controlled by the people, not the supervisors claiming to represent the people's interests. Reach out to understand what is going on. Then they won't be free to do as they want like spoiled kids not getting an allowance.
Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Article comment by:
Right Wing Conservative
Dear tom1 and taxpayer,
I can't agree more. The time has come for the citizens to demand answers, in writing, and documented when it comes to the budget. There is so much that can be efficiently operated, streamlined, or discontinued before the Supervisors again try to raise taxes. Raising taxes is the chicken way out. If they raise taxes before cutting everything not mandated by the legislature then THEY must all go. I support immediate recall petitions and/or voting them out at the earliest possible moment. This goes for the local, as well as County government. Only ACTIVE CITIZENS can demand ACTION. The to act is now.
Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Article comment by:
Dave Hollenbeck
We have a $6 million shortfall--but the Supes are spending $7 million on a road no one wants, that goes no where.
