DeKalb County will have fewer new police officers and other workers, one less police precinct, a closed library and delayed road work under this year’s approved budget.
On Monday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution obtained plans from DeKalb’s department directors detailing the impact of $33.6 million in cuts in the 2011 budget. The reports show dozens of workers will lose their jobs and others face furloughs of 2 to 18 days.
“People’s pay and jobs are at stake with these cuts,” CEO Burrell Ellis told the AJC. “When people go, services go, especially from a government that has already gone through a severe reduction as we have.”
Last month, the County Commission rejected a tax increase and approved a $530 million budget that included cuts to every department.
The CEO maintains those cuts are not sustainable and has asked department heads to detail the effect on services. He has also asked the commission to approve an “interim” tax increase for six months.
Chief Operating Officer Richard Stogner said the county’s 6,800 employees should know in the next two to three weeks if their job is affected. He has ordered staff to hold off on cutting jobs until after he finishes reviewing the reports and meeting with directors.
Commissioners want to delay layoffs until June. Commissioner Lee May, chairman of the budget committee, said they are still looking at the operational plans but have no immediate plans to raise taxes to cushion cuts.
“Our law department says there is no such thing as an interim tax increase.” May said. “We are still looking at the operational plans, but any reaction to lay off people now would be a knee-jerk reaction.”
Some departments have already begun making cuts, however.
The library board voted to close the Scott Candler branch on McAfee Road. Other libraries will see reduced weekend and evening hours.
The police department has already grounded helicopter patrols and is notifying recruits scheduled to attend the June academy that they no longer have a job.
A memo from Police Chief William O’Brien says he plans to cut 46 police officers, including the 40 vacancies the June academy was scheduled to fill and six new cadets.
The chief is also looking at closing the Flakes Mill Precinct in south DeKalb and limiting responses to theft, fraud, harassing phone calls, vandalism, gambling and other non-emergency calls.
The fire department’s proposal calls for cutting 197 positions to privatize ambulance services. That includes 89 current employees and 108 vacancies. Of the 89 current employees, 83 are now in the fire training academy, according to a memo from Fire Chief Eddie O’Brien. He has also proposed temporarily closing stations 3 in Avondale Estates and 10 in east Atlanta during renovations.
The medical examiner has proposed stopping weekend autopsies and storing bodies until weekday staff can handle them.
Other cuts include elections workers being furloughed 18 days and the voter registration office closing two days a month, except during October and November. Human resources, Planning, Geographic Information Services, and other departments have proposed layoffs.
Facilities’ staff says they will clean county buildings less often, which will cut down on cleaning supplies. Parks’ staff will mow the grass less and the planning department will stop providing free food at meetings.
About the Author
