Budget process takes next step

Douglas County will be focusing on personnel cuts to balance its budget.

County Manager T. Michael Brown made a presentation on Thursday confirming that commissioners prefer reductions come from personnel budgets, not other categories.

Meeting those cuts will focus on pay reductions, layoffs, furloughs or reductions in hours, according to Brown. As of Thursday, the deficit has hit $2.133 million.

Commissioners will provide the amount they expect cut to each department.

In a statement on Thursday, Chairman Mike Olson said commissioners should have enough information to balance the tentative budget.

"In reviewing all of the staff reports as well as all of the information and data provided by the elected officials and department heads within the county's general fund, and in light of the current fiscal status of the county, I believe this board has more than sufficient information to make those difficult budget cut decisions at the next regularly scheduled meeting on May 6."

At the close of budget presentations on Tuesday, commissioners said reductions would definitely affect county employees.