The following is an exerpt from the Manager's Board Bulletin April 17...
One question that has arisen recently is what would be the impact on Mecklenburg County if Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) receives the same level of funding in FY2010 as budgeted for the current fiscal year. One way to answer this question is to identify the additional reductions in County services that would need to occur to eliminate the $41 million gap that remains after the $38 million reduction in County services already recommended.
Based on the budget reduction scenarios provided by County departments and agencies, the impact would range from significant to severe. While the recommended $38 million cuts in County services would result in reduced levels of services, closing the remaining gap would require eliminating many existing services, including several core functions within the high-priority area identified by the Board. Some examples include:
• Cutting the equivalent of 20 full-time school health nurses
• Eliminating all County funding for substance abuse prevention services serving more than 2,750 residents
• Eliminating substance abuse rehabilitation, and education/literacy services in the jails
• Reducing permanency planning in DSS for foster children
• Cutting funding to EMS/MEDIC operations
• Cutting general assistance funding for Crisis Assistance Ministries
• Cutting in-home aide services for senior clients of DSS
• Cutting operating hours by two days a week at 20 recreation centers and six school recreation sites
• Cutting most library operating hours by 30%
There also would be significant additional cuts to the County’s business imperatives, such as eliminating funding of the fleet reserve (vehicle replacement) and cutting capital reserve (building and systems repairs) and technology reserve (IT infrastructure) by 75%. County employees who retain their jobs also would experience additional major cuts in pay of up to 15%. Also, an additional 144 jobs would be eliminated, bringing the total job loss to 400, including 164 filled positions.
Some of these service reductions and eliminations would be mitigated somewhat by cuts in other areas of the budget, such as Central Piedmont Community College, WTVI and outside agencies. However, even a 20% reduction in funding for all these areas combined would generate less than $7 million in savings. Therefore, the remaining impact on County services, our customers and our employees would continue to range from significant to severe.
Recognizing the challenging decisions the Board will face in adopting a budget, the County Manager’s Recommended Budget will include details about these and other choices and consequences.
