Interim County Executive Steven Szalay says the county must bridge a $150 million gap by June of next year – and wants to stop using one-time budget reductions often used in the past.
Szalay: “They need to be ongoing. They need to keep delivering as time goes by. The earlier we can start making these reductions, the faster we can get to the right size so we can afford ourselves.”
Szalay’s recommended budget includes more than a hundred layoffs – including nearly 50 in Child Protective Services.
The cuts also include $2.5 million to the sheriff’s department. But higher-than-expected revenues from a statewide sales tax that funds public safety will prevent more deputy layoffs.
A final vote on the cuts could come as soon as Wednesday.