In the Same Boat

As time goes on, I hope to have more and more to say, and to do, about the staffing levels of some County departments.  During the recession, which means during the last seven years or so, each budget year has seen fewer workers in many departments.  The Highway Department, for instance, has lost almost half their staff.  We saved money and got through.  Services suffered.

The economy is looking up.  Sales tax is below budget estimates, true, but the year isn't over yet.  We no longer have the Manor and MOSA subsidies making it exceptionally hard to balance the budget.  It's time to think about two things:

• What is the County really in the business of doing?
• What departments do we need, staffed at what levels, to do that business well?

I'm hoping that the Strategic Planning initiative, developed by the Government Efficiency committee, will see these as central questions.  In the meantime, we are woefully close to being in the same boat as this desperate crew:


More to come on this.