County in red nearly $1.5 million

Douglas County's $36 million general fund is down $950,000, and that means more staff cuts, County Manager T. Michael Brown told commissioners Monday.

He said he would have a comprehensive report for the board Jan. 15.

"The general fund is $950,000 shy of what our revenues should be," he said. "We're looking at personnel on (Jan.) 15th with recommendations on how to deal with it. It's not easy. We have some vacancies that won't be filled, but will be looking for direction on some positions currently occupied by employees."

He said he would recommend cuts that would be "least detrimental" to the county.

Brown said the room tax fund was $400,000-500,000 below projections.

Despite the gloomy projections, Brown said Douglas County was in a better financial position than many areas having dealt with budget shortfalls over the past few years.

"The county has done a very good job looking at reserves and setting aside funds," he said.

But, he advised the board, the challenges will continue.

"Our local communities are struggling because people in those communities are struggling," he said. "It's of prime importance to see what we can do as a government to help and make sure we're not in the way, to ask what can we as a community do to support our local businesses."

Commissioner Doug Johnson said he and commissioners from other counties met before Christmas with Gov. Jim Gibbons and were told the state must cut another $2 billion from the $7 billion budget.

"The Legislature doesn't want to raise taxes, but they might give us the ability to do it. Happy, happy," he said. "This is a snapshot in time. It's not getting any better. It may take two or three years , even more, before we see a turnaround."

Commissioner David Brady urged officials to look at consolidation of public services.

"Services cross boundaries " county, towns, general improvement districts," Brady said.

He estimated it will be 18-24 months before the situation changes.

"We could all see the downturn coming," said Commissioner Greg Lynn. "What nobody really envisioned was the bottom falling out of everything simultaneously. Returning to business as usual is not in the cards. With any luck, we'll at least hit bottom and establish a bottom."

Commissioner Nancy McDermid said some aspects were outside the county's control.

"The greatest unknown is what the Legislature will do," she said. "We've not really been through this before with the power shift. That's new ground."

Commissioners also set a meeting Feb. 17 to review progress on the county's strategic plan. The session is set for 1 p.m. in the commission chambers, Douglas County Administration Building, 1616 Eighth St., Minden.