PORT ANGELES — As it stands, Clallam County expects to lay off three employees and leave six vacant positions unfilled in 2011, County Administrator Jim Jones said on Friday.
That could change, however, if the county receives unexpected revenue or loses revenue before a final budget is adopted in mid-December.
“Right now it looks like about three [layoffs],” Jones told Department of Health and Human Services officials during a round of budget talks with elected officials and other county brass.
Clallam County faces a projected $2.6 million budget deficit in its general fund.
Each department was asked to find a 3 percent net reduction in their budget to cover a $1 million of the deficit.
The other $1.6 million will be covered by the county’s $9.5 million general fund reserve.
County commissioners and Jones met with top officials from the prosecutor’s office, auditor’s office, sheriff’s office, juvenile services, human resources, health and human services and District Court No. 1 on Friday to discuss their 3 percent reductions and funding requests.
Budget talks with other county departments will take place on Monday and Thursday.
From those discussions, Jones will prepare a final draft of the 2011 budget.
A public hearing will precede the adoption of an official budget on Dec. 14.
Sheriff Bill Benedict said he has identified about $190,000 in new revenue that prevented layoffs in his office.
He said the sheriff’s office would see an additional $100,000 in jail revenue and save $90,000 from a contract with the U.S. Forest Service to fund the Clallam County Chain Gang.
To cover the rest, Benedict will not replace two employees — a deputy and a corrections officer — who plan to retire.
“The prosecutor has an open attorney position they’re not filling,” Budget Director Kay Stevens said.
“That’s basically their 3 percent cut.”
Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly said she will fill an open secretary position to offset the loss of an attorney.
“The secretarial position, by making that cut, would not have been enough to meet our obligation of the 3 percent,” Kelly said.
“The attorney position allows us both to meet that, and do some things to compensate for the loss of that position, which, frankly, is going to be very difficult.”
Commissioner Mike Chapman said the idea of layoffs at the county courthouse keeps him awake at night.
“I’ve pretty much got a pit in my stomach for about two months because I know people that have been laid off,” Chapman said.
“I’ve had family members laid off in this economy. They’re losing their homes. They’re losing their families over it. And I want to do everything we can to avoid that.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.