Lane County plans budget cuts

Lane County could cut dozens of positions to balance the budget. Rising costs and the loss of federal timber revenues put the county in a difficult financila situation.

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Story Published: Apr 21, 2008 at 5:31 PM PST

By Tom Adams

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EUGENE, Ore. - The dominoes are starting to fall in the Lane County budget.

The county administrator released the 2008/09 proposed budget April 21. Several services are on the chopping block.

Administrators are essentially giving up on Congress renewing the county payments program, at least in time for this budget.

Public safety would take the biggest hit.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Alex Gardner said for county prosecutors, "This proposes a reduction to a total of 17 lawyers and one investigator in our office. Normal staffing would be 38 lawyers and at least 10 investigators for an office this size. We had 11 investigators (back in 1981); we're down to one."

County officials said the loss of $47 million annually from the federal government is grim. Last year, Congress approved a county payments package at the 11th hour --enough for one year.

Lane County Administrator Jeff Spartz said the county may have to lay off 190 workers this July, or 12 percent of the workforce.

Funding for the sheriff's office would shrink 23 percent. That means 126 full time positions would be lost. Sheriff's patrols would be reduced to 20 hours per day, and the Traffic Enforcement Team is targeted for elimination

Also listed to be cut completely is Lane County Animal Services. It's gone in this proposed budget.

County budgeters go to work on this plan next week. County commissioners have the final say in June.

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