Lake County hiring despite possible layoffs

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

CROWN POINT | Lake County government remains an avid employer in an otherwise tough job market -- and in the face of sweeping budget cuts.

County officials hired 71 new employees for full-time positions -- an average of more than two per week -- and dozens more for temporary part-time summer help during the first 30 weeks of the year despite expected revenue shortfalls.

The Lake County Council and Board of Commissioners are scheduled to meet in a special joint session today to discuss a hiring freeze ordinance.

The council is preparing to cut $15 million from spending by year's end because of property tax cuts that were mandated by the Indiana Legislature months ago. The county is considering extensive layoffs.

Councilman Larry Blanchard, R-Crown Point, said he favors a hiring freeze as a way of cutting employment through attrition.

"Every job we lose this year is one we don't have to cut next year," Blanchard said.

The freeze would result in more than 50 vacant positions.

Councilman Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, said he is concerned a freeze would wreak havoc on departments with high turnover.

"We would probably have to write a caveat into the ordinance to prevent that," he said.

The ordinance discussion comes in the wake of Lake County Surveyor George Van Til posting five job openings -- he has a staff of 19 -- on the county job board.

Van Til complained he isn't the only person who has been filling positions as possible job cuts approach.

Among the 71 new hires are 26 in the Lake County sheriff's office, primarily corrections officers and medical technicians.

Sheriff Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez has argued in the past that he faces situations of high employee turnover in the jail.

Blanchard said the county had passed a hiring freeze ordinance years ago that was so riddled with exceptions it wasn't effective.

"This time is different. We aren't just cutting wish lists anymore," Blanchard said. "We are cutting what we already have."