An employee wellness program and a business recycling program could get the ax in next year?s budget as Howard County Council members look for ways to save money in order to soften the blow of a possible deficit.
Council Chairwoman Courtney Watson, D-District 1, and Councilman Greg Fox, R-District 5, are pushing for amendments to the proposed fiscal 2009 budget that would reduce spending or defer some programs.
“I?m not comfortable knowing we?re going into a deficit next year assuming we give [county employees] a cost of living increase,” Watson said at a recent budget work session.
Fox said it was “imperative to one way or another reduce spending” and put more money toward the county?s future retiree benefits liability.
“We have just really got to show we are thinking about the future and not just about today,” he said.
The council auditor projected a nearly $8 million deficit in fiscal 2010, which would rise to more than $15 million by 2012.
Watson said she hopes to free at least $4 million that could go into the county?s trust to fund retiree benefits, known as OPEB, giving the county room to reduce that spending next year if faced with a deficit.
The county council has authority to only make cuts and restore education funding, so County Executive Ken Ulman must agree to put the money in the OPEB trust.
Watson and Fox are “strongly encouraging” Ulman to phase in the purchase of recycling bins and put that money into the OPEB trust, Watson said.
Ulman spokesman Kevin Enright said the implementation of the bins is “fiscally responsible and best for the environment.”
The council also might consider restoring $1.7 million to the school board?s proposed capital budget for maintenance, filling a hole left by a shortfall in state money, Watson said.
County Budget Director Ray Wacks warned against relying too much on the projections, saying they are “good, simple indicators,” but much depends on the economy and much could happen in the next year.
