Budget woes in NK, CC

Local government departments in Charles City are facing cuts as the county’s Board of Supervisors prepares to tackle budget matters for the next fiscal year.

County departments that have personnel payrolls are being asked to trim their existing budgets by 6.5 percent while those with no payroll line item are being told to implement a 2.5 percent reduction in operating expenses, county finance director Jay Brown said following supervisors’ Monday work session.

Final budget cuts will not be known until county officials have a better handle on revenue, Brown said. Real estate taxes were due in early December, and totaling the amount is a work in progress. The local revenue picture should become clearer by the end of the month, he said.

But then there is the unknown matter of state money Charles City can expect to receive. Another round of budget cuts could be announced by the governor’s office sometime this week.

Charles City’s midsized and small government agencies, including the financial/management services and code enforcement offices and planning department, were to have submitted their proposed budget reductions by Dec. 12. Large departments, such as public works, utilities, and parks and recreation, are to hand theirs in by this Friday.

Supervisors plan to meet in January with all county department heads, along with representatives from outside agencies that typically receive some county funding, to discuss the budget situation.