So much for hopes the new year would temper friction in DeKalb County government.
On Tuesday, Chief Executive Burrell Ellis made a rare appearance at a County Commission meeting and battled back-and-forth with commissioners to defend his appointment of an interim planning director without board approval. Moments before, the commission failed to override Ellis' veto of a request for the state to study DeKalb's CEO form of government.
By Thursday, a commission budget committee meeting brought together some of Ellis’ most vocal critics who made it clear they are digging in for another budget showdown. Ellis has proposed a $547 million budget that doesn’t increase taxes or services.
But on the heels of last year’s 26 percent increase in the tax rate, several commissioners insist the spending plan will have to be cut through layoffs or fewer services to win approval by February.
Under the county's unique structure, the CEO submits a budget each year but final say on spending lies with the county commission.
“In 2011, for the first time, this administration spent less than we earned, but with a 26 percent tax increase,” said Budget Commissioner Lee May. “So what is the cost? And what is the right approach for operating this county? Can you do it with a downsized staff, can you do with a different approach to government, can you do it with more outsourcing? I think you can.”
DeKalb has cut its budget from $564 million in 2010. It also shed 664 full-time jobs between 2009 and 2011.
Erosion of the tax base beyond projections and pension troubles, though, hit the county hard. It started 2011 without any money, owing about $3.7 million.
The financial woes led bond rating agencies to downgrade DeKalb’s credit, which would mean higher interest rates on borrowing. Ellis persuaded a majority of the commission to approve a 4.5 mil increase this summer – though not a single member of the budget committee – with plans return at least $12 million to reserve.
The result: DeKalb has $30 million on hand this week and projects to have $21 million in reserve when the 2011 spending is finalized next week.
“We think that’s a good story to tell,” said County Finance Director Joel Gottlieb. “That’s a big difference in one year.”
Ellis has pledged to work with commissioners on the budget but also said he doesn’t believe the county can make any more cuts without hurting services.
The budget committee, which will recommend its own budget for board approval, aims to find out. It will meet every Tuesday and Thursday, to hash out financing in each department, until a final vote the last week of February.
About the Author
