Changes under consideration in DeKalb County could give both employees and residents some grief.
On Tuesday commissioners discussed making changes to the policies that govern employees’ sick days and vacations, the pension plan, and how much people will have to pay to use the Browns Mill Aquatic Facility.
Commissioner Lee May, chairman of the budget and finance committee, said about 70 percent of the county’s budget is spent on personnel, which makes these decisions even harder.
The employee relations and community services committee discussed decreasing the maximum number of vacation days an employee with more than 20 years of service can earn.
The human resources department also is recommending employees be able to carry over fewer days from year to year. The savings would be realized when an employee leaves and is able to cash out fewer days, county officials said.
There also was discussion of raising the fees and changing the fee structure at the Browns Mill facility.
When the center first opened about three years ago there was no differentiation in fees between in-county and out-of-county guests. If approved by the full commission in coming weeks, there will be a three-tiered system that accounts for those who live outside the county, in cities within the county and in unincorporated DeKalb.
Parks director Roy Wilson projects income of more than $635,000 this year based on the changes -- twice as much as last year.
Wilson said he also has looked into other revenue streams for the facility, including private party rentals.
These changes are necessary and will help the county get on solid fiscal footing, May said.
“Everything is under consideration,” he said, "and it has to be. We’ve got to get a handle on what we’re spending and how we’re spending it.”
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