Benton County Officials Say Finding Possible Cuts A Tough Task

BENTONVILLE -- Benton County officials are scanning their 2015 budgets for a possible 3 percent in cuts if voters turn down rural ambulance funding plans on the Nov. 4 ballot.

"We have to assume that neither measure going before the voters is going to pass, and so we have to be prepared for it," Kurt Moore, justice of the peace for District 13, previously said. "If one or both measures is passed it's easier to put the money back in than it would be to cut it out at the last minute."

One ambulance proposal would levy a countywide 0.2 mill property tax increase that would cost property owners about $4 a year on property valued at $100,000. All county voters will be able to vote on the proposed millage increase.

The second ambulance funding plan would establish an emergency medical services district that would cover the unincorporated areas of the county other than the area served by the Northeast Benton County Fire Department's ambulance service. Voters in the proposed district will be asked to approve the formation of the district and a $40 annual fee to be assessed to all households in the district.

Cutbacks would take place if both measures fail. Officials who have to make the possible cuts say it's a tough task.

"There's no fluff in our budget," said Nathan Smith, county prosecutor-elect. "We spend it."

Smith's office has a $1.6 million budget. More than $800,000 is dedicated to salaries, but reducing employees is off the table, he said.

Some areas in the budget are contracted services and those yearly costs cannot be reduced, Smith said. Training and travel expenses could be cut, Smith said.

Judge Doug Schrantz said it's impossible for circuit judges to cut their budgets. Each judge has a similar budget with the majority of the money dedicated to salaries. The state pays circuit judges and their case coordinators. The county pays the salary for their bailiff and assistants.

Schrantz's 2014 budget is $124,534 with $96,084 dedicated to employees and related expenses.

"We just don't have large budgets and there's no place to cut," Schrantz said. "We would be down to cutting pens and paper."

Jay Saxton, chief public defender, said he has found ways to reduce 3 percent from his $77,000 operating budget. Cutting back on travel and postage are two ideas he has.

The office's total budget is $635,000. The county pays for 4 1/2 public defenders and the state pays for 6 1/2 public defenders.

Smith and Saxton said using less paper also would be a money saver for the county. Court filings have to be on paper, but the amount of other paper used can be reduced, they say. Computer tablets could help their two offices go paperless, Saxton and Smith said.

Rob Holly, chief deputy for the Sheriff's Office, wants to reduce the office's $16.5 million budget by $495,000, but not cut any employees.

Cuts could come from training, uniforms and capital expenses, Holly said.

Capital expenses cover things like patrol cars, and the Sheriff's Office wants to purchase as many 12 vehicles next year, Holly said.

Only one vehicle was purchased in the 2014 budget since several were bought as a cost-saving measure in 2013, Holly said.

"We have 35 vehicles with over 100,000 miles," Holly said. "We are going to have to replace 12 of them next year."

The county at some point will have to pay to remove mold from the Sheriff's Office administration area, Holly said. A total cost for the project could be hundreds of thousands of dollars, Holly said.

NW News on 09/02/2014

Upcoming Events