Cass department heads asked to find more cuts

WALKER - Cass County Board voted Tuesday to use the 2010 budgeted $500,000 contingency fund to offset part of the proposed $910,455 state unallotments and to ask department heads to find another $155,055 to cut April 6.

By reassessing figures now, compared with known amounts when the budget was set in 2009, Administrator Robert Yochum told the board the contingency fund actually looks like it will contain an additional $258,000 this year.

It appears, he said that asking employees to take off eight days during the year to offset 3 percent pay raises this year will actually save the county $275,000 rather than $200,000. Out-of-home child placement costs could run $120,000 less than budgeted. An increased land department distribution could amount to $75,000, though staff cost savings in the assessing department may run $11,600 less than budgeted.

The trickle-down effect of the county's cost cutting will mean Cass County Economic Development, Cass County Historical Society, the fairs at Pillager and Pine River, the five family centers and mental health program in Cass schools will not receive second half payments this year from the county unless the county's financial position improves significantly the second half of this year or final state unallotments are less than expected now.

Some recorder's office fees beyond those needed for the recorder to meet compliance standards will go to the county general fund as will $53,000 that otherwise would have been set aside toward sheriff's communications equipment purchases.

These measures are designed to cover state market value credit and program aid unallotments Gov. Tim Pawlenty listed in his state budget proposal.

Still unknown, Yochum told the board Tuesday, are specific state agency cuts that could impact money the county receives to operate programs within the probation, sheriff, human services and health departments.