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Politics & Government

ACC Budget Process Gears Up

"I wouldn't want to give employees false hopes" of raises," says Commissioner Hoard.

It's never too early to save money.

Even though they won't approve next year's budget until June of 2012, Athens Clarke County Commissioners took the first step in the budgetary process Tuesday night. They gave a preliminary thumbs-up to a staff-generated proposal of budgetary goals and objectives.

County Manager Alan Reddish characterized the presentation as a wish list.
"This is only what you would like to do," Reddish told Commissioners. Β "The reality will come later when we actually begin building the budget."

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That reality is expected to be an austere one.

Faced with declining tax revenues and a still-recovering economy, Commissioners have also tasked themselves with eliminating nearly $10 million from the budget in coming years.

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Still, the staff recommendations contained a small ray of hope for ACC employees. While staff doesn't recommend any increases for FY12, the proposal does include salary increases of one (FY13), two (FY14) and two and one half (FY15) percent in the four-year budget projection presented to the Mayor and Commission during the FY12 budget development process.Β 

District 7 Commissioner Kathy Hoard cautioned her colleagues against considering any future pay raises a done deal.

"I want to do this," Hoard said, "but the reality may be different. I wouldn't want to give our employees false hope."

At the end of Tuesday's work session, Commissioners unanimously approved the budget goals and objectives, including the raise proposal, adding only minor clarifications to the text, as well as a handful of specific programs. Reddish and his staff will revise the document and return it to Commissioners for final approval in the coming weeks.

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