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Budget May Bring More Cuts

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By MIKE SALINERO

msalinero@tampatrib.com

Published: February 5, 2009

TAMPA - The continuing decline in the local economy will force Hillsborough County commissioners to sharpen their budget knives again this year and consider more layoffs.

Commissioners approved 28 layoffs in the county building department Wednesday because of a decline in building permits. The county budget director told the commissioners more job cuts are sure to come.

"We've got a significant hole to fill across the balance of the organization," said Eric Johnson, an assistant county administrator in charge of finance. "This is just one of several challenges we're going to be facing in the next few months."

Johnson said he would give commissioners a report next Wednesday that will detail the projected shortfall in next year's county budget. Last year, commissioners had to cut more than $80 million from the budget and cut 100 employees.

Some of those cuts, however, were related to property tax reductions passed by voters earlier in the year. This year, the major culprit is a recession that is hitting the Tampa Bay area hard.
County officials estimate building permits will bring in about $3.8 million less than was originally projected, said Peter Aluotto, director of the Planning and Growth Management Department. The layoffs will save about $1 million a year. The rest of the deficit will be made up with reserve funds.

Johnson said he doesn't expect the building slump to end anytime soon.

"We don't know when this industry will be coming back," he said, "because it's being driven by national credit markets."

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

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