The immediate steps that could be taken would be such things as putting off some road projects, delaying or eliminating some capital requests, these are usually high dollar items and in the short term may have to be done. Delaying hiring when vacancies occur can also be done. For the long term we may have to adopt some sort of zero based budget process that would allow the county board to reexamine all our existing activities for mandated and non-mandated services; it allows us to look at the very core of every service we provide and would help us prioritize these activities which will have to be curtailed due to budget constraints.
I would also base any possible budget reductions on such criteria as 1. Mandated vs. non-mandated services, with the probability that non-mandated services will receive a lower priority. 2. The level service is above mandated requirements would also be a high priority for possible reductions. 3. Those services that are available elsewhere in the community and are perhaps duplication would be an area of probable reductions. 4. And finally we may have to go without some services that we are used to having that do not greatly impact our lives; in other words it might be something that's nice to have but if we can't afford it we can probably lead a normal life without it.
Spencer Buerkle Benton Co. Commissioner Candidate
spencerbuerkle@hotmail.com. or phone 320-249-7206
