Hotel Yorba
What a difference a week makes! The budget showdown has reached a state of compromise. Now the council just needs to pass it. Last Monday, I met with several department heads and we hashed out options. Tuesday, we received the actual COIT numbers for 2010, a rise rather than a flat line figure! This was all great news and it appears Monroe County will not be making layoffs for the next fiscal year.
I also received a wonderful compliment that day when Judge Todd stated publicly that the level of information and transparency supplied by my office has been unprecedented in his 30 years with Monroe County.
The 2010 budget is still slim and spending is still outpacing revenues. I advertised the general fund budget at 29M. Our revenues will be in at around 28.8M next year. The only reason more cuts are not necessary is because we will be entering 2010 with about a 10M dollar cash reserve. Unemployment is fueling this recession, and county departments are stretched thin. We need to hold on to our employees who make government run and provide very important services for the public.
Last night, I attended the Democratic Women’s Caucus celebration of the 19th Amendment at the Bloomington Country Club.
“An evening to celebrate the passing of the 19th amendment. Aviva Orenstein, IU law professor was the featured speaker. Sophia Travis and friends provided the music.”
See the Facebook pics:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=2032148&id=1111952917&re...
My departmental update before the County Commissioners has been delayed until September.
Also, September 4th, I will be speaking with County Councilwomen Julie Thomas and Jill Lesh at the Democratic Women’s Caucus meeting about the Monroe County Budget.
