Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk blamed a poor economy for a series of painful cuts and a 7.9 percent property tax increase as she outlined her proposed 2010 budget Thursday.
The budget calls for the highest year-to-year property tax increase in more than a decade for Dane County and hopes to achieve a 3 percent pay cut for all county employees. Falk threatened the elimination of 100 county jobs if the workers' unions do not agree to the proposed pay cuts.
Falk also plans to eliminate 25 positions from county payrolls regardless in an effort to fill the projected $10 million shortfall.
The Dane County budget is being shaped by grim economic realities, according to a statement issued by Falk. A steep drop in local consumer spending and a weak Dane County real estate market have combined to undermine traditionally sound county revenue streams.
Falk said the county is struggling to grapple with a cost increase of $6.5 million in health insurance, workers' compensation and the Wisconsin Retirement System.
The result has been a budget based upon difficult choices and ""shared sacrifice,"" Falk said, though she emphasized that the budget still aims to protect core services.
""Instead of radically cutting everything our citizens expect from county government—safe roads and communities, and healthy and vibrant families—my budget protects these priorities when people need services the most,"" she said in the statement.
Public safety remains a top priority, according to Falk, and the $66 million total budget for the Dane County Sheriff's Department represents an increase of nearly $3.5 million for 2010.
She said the budget would keep the Public Safety Communications Center upgrades on target and appropriate $12 million for radio replacement and systems integration.
The budget also expands mental health services. Dane County will leverage $500,000 in federal funding to operate a new 24-hour, community-based mental health crisis stabilization center.
