By Andy Grimm, Post-Tribune staff writer
CROWN POINT -- The Lake County payroll will shed 150 jobs in 2010, as County Council members search to trim $19 million from next year's spending plan.
In council chambers packed with department heads and elected officials, council members Thursday outlined a dire forecast for county revenues slashed by a slumping economy, state-mandated tax caps and a county-wide freeze on government spending.
Council members have in turn mandated a 10 percent payroll cut across all county departments, and a 5 percent cut to operating budgets.
"Don't look across the hall at other departments," said Councilman Ted Bilski.
"If (the department budget) doesn't work, it will end up coming back to us and we will make cuts."
The cuts will only trim the payroll from 1,600 to 1,450 positions, and cull some $10 million from an anticipated revenue shortfall, one that comes after council members slashed $35 million from county spending in the past 18 months to make up for low collection rates, investment income declines and tax caps.
A third consecutive year of lean budgets will mean reduced services.
Assessor Paul Karras cut his budget 50 percent in 2009.
"We bit the bullet, and we're going to have a reassessment in July and I'm going to need all the help I can get."
A few officials offered proposals to reduce the budget while keeping staff.
Judge Julie Cantrell suggested reducing payroll expenses up to $3 million by making 13 county holidays unpaid furlough days. Bilski replied furloughs might be needed on top of the staffing cuts to close the final $9 million of the deficit.
Councilwomen Elsie Franklin, D-Gary, and Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, noted that county services would likely suffer after two years of budget cutting.
Councilman Thomas O'Donnell, D-Dyer, noted that the spending cuts were caused by state mandates and "punitive" legislation that targeted Lake County -- and county taxpayers were unlikely to have much sympathy for laid-off workers.
"There are 480,000 people (in Lake County) that don't care about the 1,600 (county employees)," he said. "As long as their tax bill doesn't go up $3, they don't consider the services they get."
Court Administrator Marty Goldman, head of a department of four full-time workers, said he will have to cut $15,300 from his budget, which could mean a pay cut for Lake County jurors.
"By statute, I've only got to pay $15 a day, and we pay $20," he said. "But we have trouble getting people to show up for $20 now.
"Wow. I don't know. It's going to be tough."