The Haralson County Board of Commissions discussed the possibility of a county wide 7 percent budget cut during their work session meeting on Wednesday.

The cuts would affect all county departments equally and could be voted into effect as early as the commissioner’s regular meeting on Dec. 2. According to the board, rising costs coupled with a decline in tax revenues has created the need for budget cuts. Commission Chairman Allen Poole stated that the board has asked county department heads to make cuts, but that expenses have actually increased from roughly $500,000 a month to $600,000 a month.

“For the past six months we’ve asked the department heads and elected officials to look at ways to cut 7 percent out of their budgets,” said Poole. “As of today, it’s pretty much fallen on deaf ears.”

According to Poole, the county pays slightly more than $500,000 a month in payroll, which results in the county paying out $1.2 million a month when coupled with $600,000 in expenditures. The county’s budget for the current fiscal year, which began on July 1 and ends on June 30, 2009, is $13.7 million. If the county continued paying $1.2 million a month, at the end of the fiscal year it will have spent $14.4 million, $700,000 over the $13.7 million budget. Poole did note that some department heads have made efforts to make cuts, but said that the cuts are still necessary.

“There have been several departments that have shown tremendous strides in cutting and trying to save,” Poole said.

According to the board, the commissioners cannot cut a line item, a specific expense, from the budget of a county department. However, the board can impose an overall 7 percent cut, and the department heads will determine how the 7 percent is eliminated. If approved by the council, the cuts would apply to all county departments equally, including public safety, such as the Sheriff’s Office, the Haralson County Fire Department, the Emergency Management Agency and 911 service. The cuts would not apply to employees or businesses that have existing contracts with the county.

According to Poole, depending on tax revenues, there could be future cuts in 2009.

“We hope that these cuts will get us through the hard times,” Poole said. “Come January or February we may have to look at laying off some people or cutting hours back. We don’t know that. Right now we’re just trying to be proactive. Hopefully, by being proactive, we can present any drastic layoffs now.”

Commissioner Vance Posey was adamant that the 7 percent cuts not lead to layoffs or furloughs for county employees.

“What I want to make clear as can be,” said Posey, “if we cut 7 percent, I don’t want to see employees laid off or furloughed.”

According to Poole, the board has looked at furloughing employees four hours a pay period, which equals one full day of work per month.

“Let me make it clear, come January and February when the revenues come in, we may have to do some drastic cuts,” Poole said. “But right now I believe this 7 percent will get us where we need to be. Understand a lot of these counties are doing two-day layoffs as we speak. We’re not trying to do that, we’re trying to keep people working. I’d rather people have a job and lose one day of work than not have a job. That’s what I’m trying to prevent.”

The board stated that any future cuts would be based on the financial situation at the time. Should the county receive higher than expected tax revenues, additional cuts may not be necessary, and the budget amended accordingly.

“This will get us where we need to be,” Poole said. “An evaluation may take place in January, and we may not have to cut. If the money comes in, we can come back and amend [the budget] and give [the departments] a little bit back. I don’t have a crystal ball, I’m just trying to keep the doors open and people from being laid off.”