County implements hiring freeze

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BY JEAN ORTIZ / Lincoln Journal Star

With projections of next year’s budget deficit approaching $3.9 million, the Lancaster County Board on Thursday approved a hiring freeze until it can sort through the financial details.

But commissioners will be able to sidestep the freeze for positions they deem critical.

The board voted 3-2 to move ahead with a freeze, with Ray Stevens and board Chairman Bob Workman objecting.

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County Commissioner Ray Stevens

County Commissioner Ray Stevens

What happened: The Lancaster County Board voted to impose a hiring freeze because of a projected budget deficit.

What it means: Department heads can’t make new hires unless the board deems a position critical.

What’s next: Budget hearings will begin next week as county officials work to overcome the financial shortfall.

Stevens later questioned whether it was appropriate for the board to take action when a hiring freeze was not on Thursday’s agenda.

The freeze idea was sparked during discussion about next year’s budget, which is in its early stages and on track for approval in August.

County Budget and Fiscal Officer Dennis Meyer addressed the board as budget requests from department and elected leaders begin rolling in, showing a $2.8 million increase in expenses — of which about $2.1 million are salaries.

Meyer has received requests for seven new positions, including an assistant maintenance construction manager for the Corrections Department and a paralegal in the county attorney’s office.

The board had already approved 10 new positions — including eight corrections officers — in its current year budget.

After its adoption last August, they approved more hires, including a school resource officer for the Sheriff’s Department, a deputy county attorney for juvenile court and five new employees for Community Corrections, Meyer said.

The county has about 1,150 full-time employees.

Early tabulations also show a $790,000 decrease in revenue, which Meyer attributed to interest revenue being down and losses at the Youth Services Center.

Commissioner Bernie Heier introduced the idea of a freeze.

Commissioner Larry Hudkins supported the plan, saying the budget picture is “more serious than we anticipated.”

But Hudkins also stressed concern the board can’t freeze critical positions.

For instance, as liaison to Lancaster Manor, he knows there are critical positions at the nursing home, including a Medicare coordinator, that must be filled.

He suggested a freeze beyond the requests already received, which sparked more debate.

“Is this just a hiring freeze or is this just verbiage?” Workman asked.

Commissioner Deb Schorr suggested delaying a decision for a week to understand how many new hires are in progress, but Heier declined, saying the county can’t wait.

After the vote, Schorr said the decision was appropriate and the county needs to send a message it can’t afford to keep adding positions.

The board’s action sends a strong message while maintaining the flexibility it needs, said Lincoln Independent Business Association Executive Director Coby Mach, whose organization in April suggested a hiring freeze.

“I think the board has to be flexible when you take into account the county offers emergency services, safety services,” he said.

But a freeze could end up costing the county, said Community Mental Health Center Director Dean Settle, who shared his concerns with Stevens and Schorr after the vote.

Settle is in the process of filling four full-time positions. If he abandons that plan, he may need to pay overtime to keep his operations running 24/7.

He did say he’s willing to take the freeze into consideration for future hirings.

The county last imposed a hiring freeze during the summer of 2002, said Kerry Eagan, the county’s chief administrative officer.

The board also unanimously backed a plan to ask department heads and elected leaders to consider how they might shave their submitted budgets by 5 percent.

Reach Jean Ortiz at 473-7107 or jortiz@journalstar.com.