PORT TOWNSEND — Feeling the deepening recession and its impact on tax revenues, Jefferson County is about $1 million below budget projections for 2009, and county Administrator Philip Morley proposes cuts in payroll by as much as five hours a week for staff.

“At this point we’re not looking at any layoffs,” Morley told the commissioners, indicating that the possibility existed should the county financial picture worsen.

Work-hour reductions would have to go into effect May 1, he said.

An April 27 public hearing would be scheduled for the budget amendment, he said.

Addressing the county commissioners Monday morning, Morley said the county has contacted the United Food and Commercial Works and the Teamster’s unions representing county employees to open negotiations.

This would give staff as much advance notice as possible “that changes are likely coming that may affect staffing levels and/or require hour reductions equivalent to half hour to 1 hour per day,” he said.

For departments within the general fund, it is estimated that a combined total of about $370,000 in reductions need to be made.

Budget reductions are likely to be smaller for departments that absorbed major reductions when the 2009 budget was adopted in December, he said, such as the Department of Community Development.

When the commissioners adopted the county’s $48 million 2009 budget, 13 job cuts — six of them layoffs — were limited to the DCD.

That department’s remaining staffers were cut to 36-hour work weeks, including Al Scalf, community development director.

The reductions amounted to two full-time positions.

A 4.3 percent staff reduction was approved with the 2009 budget, leaving the county with 297.6 full-time-equivalent positions.

Morley at the time warned that he would continue to monitor revenue flow and propose additional adjustments, if necessary.

On Monday, Morley said newly affected departments would likely include the county commissioners, county administrator, auditor/elections, assessor, treasurer, clerk, prosecuting attorney, District Court and Superior Court, including Juvenile Services.

“We are still working with Sheriff [Anthony] Hernandez to identify what economies the sheriff’s office can make, recognizing its unique operational and safety constraints,” Morley said.

The Sheriff’s Office last year reduced a deputy position, saving $92,000, and reduced professional services by $70,000. The sheriff also budgeted adequate overtime of $225,000 in salaries and benefits, which previously had not been done.

This year, Morley said the sheriff would be asked to trim more than $200,000 from his budget.

The Sheriff’s Department accounts for about 25 percent of the general fund.

After May 1, Morley said, further budget adjustments could be made depending on state and federal general fund revenue.

County Commissioner John Austin, D-Port Ludlow, said he endorsed Morley’s proposal “favoring a reduction in hours rather than employees.”

Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.