After last night’s Knox County Finance Committee meeting, the county is looking to make about $5,000 more in additional cuts to address a $250,000 deficit in the general fund.
The county faces a total shortfall of $1.2 million for the next fiscal year. County Board Chairman Brian Friedrich said he expects to make between 10 and 20 job cuts, if any.
That number is down from early estimates of 30 to 40 jobs.
Friedrich tells WGIL that department heads agreed to make even more financial cuts than they had originally been asked.
“It’s pretty evident that all of our department heads have been pretty frugal with their budgets,” says Friedrich. “They have all cut down pretty tight, they are all doing a good job of watching their money. Throughout going through the budget, we have really seen the department heads watch their stuff which is nice to see.”
During a September 25th meeting, Finance Committee Chairman Greg Bacon said a part time position at the coroner’s office was considered for elimination. The cut would spell about $8,000 in savings.
Friedrich confirmed that cuts were made elsewhere in the coroner’s office and the job is no longer on the chopping block..
The finance committee meets tomorrow night to find possible cuts in the health, highway and landfill departments, all of which are paid for outside of the county’s general fund.
Sheriff Dave Clague and State’s Attorney John Pepmeyer will be representing their respective departments Thursday night.
