More Lake County officials promise more job cuts

BY BILL DOLAN, Times of Northwest Indiana
bdolan@nwitimes.com

CROWN POINT | More than a dozen Lake County officeholders and department heads promised a tough-talking County Council on Tuesday they will cut about 70 full-time and part-time jobs before the end of the year.

Those promises were made on the first day of hearings for Lake County's 2009 budget and are in sharp contrast to previous years, when many officials demanded more money for the future.

Lake County Council President Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, said in a keynote speech the county must cut $15 million from its current budget of $132 million because of permanent revenue shortfalls that will be caused by state-mandated property tax cuts.

Dante Rondelli, the council's finance director, said more than Tuesday's promises will be needed to get the budget in line. That could include job cuts, revenue increases and other financial strategies.

County Auditor Peggy Holinga Katona said she is cutting five full-time jobs. She said she eliminated 11 full-time and part-time jobs by attrition earlier in the year.

County Prosecutor Bernard Carter promised to cut four full-time and a dozen part-time jobs.

In contrast, the county parks department is seeking a 17 percent increase in its budget. The sheriff is asking for a 10 percent increase. The sheriff and parks representatives promised to work with the council to make reductions.