Washington County Board OKs $4.2m in Budget Cuts

The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved 2011 budget cuts amounting to $4.2 million at its meeting Tuesday morning in the County Government Center in Stillwater.

The reductions are necessary, according to deputy county administrator Molly O’Rourke, because of continued cuts in Minnesota state aid.

The combined revenue shortfall due to state reductions is approximately $4.2 million, O’Rouke said. Similar state aid reductions have totaled $7.2 million during the past three years.

County administrator Jim Schug told the board that budget cuts have been under discussion for a year.

Now the county has mid-year cuts prepared and they are deeper than expected, O’Rourke said.

A possible reduction of $3.8 million had been discussed before the end of legislative session when actual state cuts became known.

The approved reductions will hit pavement improvement projects to the tune of almost $1.9 million.

Contributions toward paying off a judgment on post-employment benefits will be reduced in the amount of $1.7 million.

O’Rouke noted that the county lost a large lawsuit by employees many years ago over a proposal to drop a benefit they were to receive after retirement.

She said savings in wages and benefits due to a “soft freeze” on hiring (not filling vacant positions) will be $402,900. By cutting some county services, including libraries, Washington County will save $223,800.

District One county commissioner Dennis Hegberg said the cuts were “just kicking the can down the road. Hopefully we’ll figure a way out of it.”

He said he thought the reductions at the state level would continue and added that pavement improvements always would be needed too.

Editor's Note: This story has been corrected from its original version, which incorrectly stated that the cuts were made from the 2012 budget year.