Four FT jobs and dispatch still up in the air, creation of a “commissioner coordinator” position discussed
RBC |Commissioners are still considering “all options” (with the exception of reserves) as they endeavor to cut $2.3 million from the 2021 budget. Those options include merging various departments to cut back on staff and meeting with Jeff Davis, Director of Public Safety Communications for the Colorado State Patrol, next Tuesday to continue the discussion about shifting the county’s dispatch to the regional call center in Craig. Public response to that suggestion has been overwhelmingly negative.
By cutting 5% of each department’s actual expenses, the county anticipates a savings of $1 million. The other changes — consolidation of departments and cutting positions, as well as a one day a month furlough for county employees — are expected to save another $700,000.
That will still require significant cuts to balance the 2021 budget. The county has $17 million in reserves that commissioners have repeatedly said they don’t want to dip into.
In a work session Tuesday, Budget and Finance Director Janae Stanworth asked the commissioners for direction on the consolidation of departments as she moves forward with budget planning. Departments named as subject to consolidation include building, planning, GIS, emergency management, natural resources, economic development, IT, communications and sales and use tax, according to the agenda for the regular meeting.
Commissioner Gary Moyer described what he would like to see in the restructuring: “We need a go-to person that communicates with the commissioners and the department heads to keep us on the same page.” Moyer said as a new commissioner it was difficult to determine who the “go-to” person was in each department.
“You are describing the role of a county administrator,” commented County Attorney Todd Starr.
Rio Blanco County hasn’t had a county administrator since Kimberly Bullen resigned in April 2013.
A county administrator/manager would cost the county about $150,000 a year. Creating a new “commissioner coordinator” position is estimated at $100,000-110,000.
Stanworth summed up that part of the discussion: “Your savings is going to come from not having an ED [Economic Development] department — with two people gone — but we’re going to put in this new position that’s going to serve as public information, commissioner coordinator and if you wanted it to, some ED.”
Also mentioned in the work session was the possibility of asking the towns to subsidize the sales and use tax department, a position held by Deb Morlan for more than 20 years. Both town managers have spoken on behalf of the need for the sales and use tax department to remain in place.
How to combine roles like emergency management — a mostly grant-funded position currently held by commissioner-elect Ty Gates — and other disparate departments like natural resources or economic development prompted additional discourse. Reducing the emergency management role to part time is under consideration.
Starr suggested keeping natural resources under the planning department. County Planner Leif Joy also serves as the county surveyor and GIS department head.
In the regular meeting, the board:
• Approved an event plan for the Mountain Dogs LLC event Sept. 18-20 at the fairgrounds.
• Agreed to continue to collect the employee portion of social security taxes instead of deferring payment for six months, an option made available by the federal government as a way to boost the economy. Employees would be held accountable for the taxes after the deferral period.
• Appointed Alice Harvey and Marcia Allread to the CSBG Board.
The commissioners closed another regular meeting in an executive session, “for the purpose of receiving legal advice on specific legal questions.” Human Resources Director Laura Smith and Commissioner-elect Gates were included in the executive session Tuesday. No further details were provided.
The board has three special meetings scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. The agendas for the meetings list executive sessions followed by approval or disapproval of settlement terms with Utah Gas.
