DeKalb News: 2012 Budget Recommendation
12/19/11 7:23 am
DECATUR – DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Burrell Ellis delivered his 2012 Executive Budget Recommendation to the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, in accordance with the Organizational Act of DeKalb County.
“The 2012 Executive Budget Recommendation reflects the Administration’s ongoing efforts to restructure government, reduce spending and bring about innovation,” said CEO Ellis.
The Tax Funds portion of the 2012 Executive Budget Recommendation totals $547 million, and provides (1) funding for all county holidays; (2) no furloughs for county employees; (3) a lower-cost healthcare option for county employees; (4) implementation of the ONE DeKalb Works jobs stimulus program and our ONE DeKalb Lives housing initiatives; and (5) no millage rate increase.
“I understand the hardship the recession has placed on the County’s working families. County employees, in particular, have seen their healthcare costs and pension contributions increase, and their salaries reduced due to the defunding of county holidays or furloughs, while receiving no cost-of-living adjustments,” said CEO Ellis. “These actions have taken a toll on employee morale and will, over time, impede the county’s ability to continue to reasonably deliver quality services.”
In order to accomplish these objectives, county departments will be called upon to provide services at the same general funding levels as in 2011, except in certain areas where new funding is mandated. This includes funding for elections in 2012.
“The 2012 Executive Budget Recommendation represents a fiscally responsible approach,” said Ellis. “I look forward to working with the Board of Commissioners and hearing from our citizens as we move toward adoption of a final budget.”
“The 2012 Executive Budget Recommendation reflects the Administration’s ongoing efforts to restructure government, reduce spending and bring about innovation,” said CEO Ellis.
The Tax Funds portion of the 2012 Executive Budget Recommendation totals $547 million, and provides (1) funding for all county holidays; (2) no furloughs for county employees; (3) a lower-cost healthcare option for county employees; (4) implementation of the ONE DeKalb Works jobs stimulus program and our ONE DeKalb Lives housing initiatives; and (5) no millage rate increase.
“I understand the hardship the recession has placed on the County’s working families. County employees, in particular, have seen their healthcare costs and pension contributions increase, and their salaries reduced due to the defunding of county holidays or furloughs, while receiving no cost-of-living adjustments,” said CEO Ellis. “These actions have taken a toll on employee morale and will, over time, impede the county’s ability to continue to reasonably deliver quality services.”
In order to accomplish these objectives, county departments will be called upon to provide services at the same general funding levels as in 2011, except in certain areas where new funding is mandated. This includes funding for elections in 2012.
“The 2012 Executive Budget Recommendation represents a fiscally responsible approach,” said Ellis. “I look forward to working with the Board of Commissioners and hearing from our citizens as we move toward adoption of a final budget.”
(Commissioner Jeff Rader represents District Two on DeKalb County's
Board of Commissioners. He was reelected in November of 2010 for
another four-year term.)
Please encourage your neighbors to sign up for my e-mail updates. Go to my web site, www.commissionerrader.com, and click on the "news signup" link at the bottom.
Please encourage your neighbors to sign up for my e-mail updates. Go to my web site, www.commissionerrader.com, and click on the "news signup" link at the bottom.