County budget cuts could run deep--County employees may have to take furloughs

(By Leslie Bray Evans, The Stokes News) - With the deadline to approve a balanced budget just 26 days away, Stokes County Commissioners are working furiously to decide which cuts to make. And cuts are indeed a necessity in what may become one of the tightest years ever for county finances.

The reasons for the budgetary slashes are varied. The economic downturn is a factor, of course, as is the extreme budgetary shortfall on the state level. If the State of North Carolina is unable to send the customary funds to the county—ADM monies and Hold Harmless funds—this represents a huge loss of revenue that is traditionally received in Stokes. Sales tax revenues are down as well, damming up yet another revenue stream.

Stokes County Manager Bryan Steen unveiled two proposed budgets at the regular commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, May 26. Option one was developed with the idea of still receiving Hold Harmless revenues from the state. It would total $39,802,536—a $2,169,154 reduction from last year.

Option two involved no consideration of Hold Harmless revenues. This would result in a $3,411,866 reduction—a total budget of $38,559,824.