County considers 4-day weekto cut spending

Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday said they would propose a four-day work week as a means of meeting a $1 million revenue shortfall for 2008.

Commissioners said they would propose the issue to the county employees union at a 6 p.m. meeting tonight (Thursday).

“To me, that’s the simplest and smartest way to do it,” said commission Chair George Trott. “The offices would keep their staff, and the public would receive their service.”In effect, employees would see their wages cut 20 percent, but the county would maintain 100 percent of their health benefits, commissioners said.

The board spent the past week meeting with elected officials to discuss ideas and ramifications for budget cuts for each department.

Early this month, commissioners sent department heads letters asking them to suggest cuts to meet the expected 2008 and 2009 revenue shortfalls. Letters included a target reduction for each department.

Department heads met September 15 and developed a counter proposal--ask voters to lift the levy lid, add a .1 percent increase in the sales tax, assess funds a 5 percent service fee for financial services provided by the treasurer and auditor, transfer funds from the County Road Department, and borrow from reserves.

Commissioners said they knew they would have to borrow from reserves, but they were unsure of how much the other moves would generate and especially if it is wise to divert the road fund.

“These meetings went pretty well,” Trott said Tuesday. “We educated ourselves with the issues and how the cuts would affect each department.”

He added the board was still working to compile the benefits and disadvantages of the elected officials’ proposal.

A few departments would be excluded from the four-day work week. These include the sheriff’s department, ferry crew and possibly courts would be excluded because of their mandated operations.

There also will likely be some layoffs.

“Speaking for myself, I think we’re still going to have to lay off some personnel,” said Commissioner Dan Cothren. “I don’t want to take this into next year and really be hurt.”

“We’ve been putting together a proposal for the union,” said Commissioner Blair Brady. “A lot depends on that. We’ll see how it goes.”

“We have to have that reduction in hours, or everybody will lose somebody,” Trott said.