DeKalb County’s 2011 midyear budget turned two weeks old Tuesday, and commissioners celebrated by considering two spending adjustments.
The Commission discussed, but did not approve, these changes to the $540 million budget it approved July 12. The commission, which passed a spending plan that includes a 26-percent increase in the tax rate, can only offer suggestions to the chief executive. The CEO’s office, which requested the changes, makes the daily decisions on how to spend the money.
“This is not something we discussed, but we will have to,” Budget Committee Chairman Lee May said.
Instead of abolishing 644 vacant positions, eliminating just 250 has been proposed. The county would pay an estimated $22 million next year if it filled the remaining jobs.
The county also would not fill jobs, such as in the libraries and parks, that the commission added as part of its spending proposal.
“So this abolished even positions that we created,” Commissioner Elaine Boyer said. “I don’t know that was the intention of the board.”
Secondly, the commission wanted clarification that it is designating three days as unpaid holidays: Labor Day, Veterans Day and the day following Thanksgiving.
Most county workers will not be paid for those days and won't work them. Public safety and other employees who work will be paid straight time, not holiday pay.
The complaint over holiday pay has irked some DeKalb police officers, who have called for a ticket strike. Officers typically work 10-hour shifts on the holidays; those who don't, like all other county workers, receive eight hours paid for holidays, but want 10.
“Closing down on holidays, that has the least impact on services countywide,” Finance Director Joel Gottlieb said.
The question of vacant positions, though, is felt nearly across the board. Sheriff Thomas Brown was first in line Tuesday, asking for permission to fill 70 vacant jobs in his department.
Twelve openings are for deputies, 35 for jail detention officers and two for a lieutenant and a sergeant to oversee jail operations. The rest are technician jobs.
Brown said eight would-be deputies are in training classes. His office already has extended offers to them and some detention officers, he said.
“We know this board has taken a real strong stance on public safety,” Brown said. “All of them are critical.”
All unfilled jobs were abolished in the midyear 2011 budget, unless offer letters were outstanding. It was unclear Tuesday whether Brown’s candidates had formal offers before the July 12 budget vote.
The commission is slated to take up the requests for debate during its meeting on Tuesday.
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