CLOSING THE BUDGET GAP FOR BERNALILLO COUNTY ISN’T EASY. THAT FROM COUNTY COMMISSIONER ART DE LA CRUZ. BUT THE COMMISSION DID JUST THAT AT ITS MEETING ON TUESDAY. ONE THING DE LA CRUZ SAYS HE WOULDN’T SUPPORT IS ANY KIND OF TAX INCREASE. HE TELLS US THIS KIND OF BUDGET ISSUE IS UNCHARTERED TERRITORY FOR THE COMMISSION.
COMMISSIONERS VOTED TUESDAY AGAINST RAISING TAXES. THEY ALSO VOTED AGAINST JOB CUTS AND CUTS TO A PROGRAM THAT’S HELPED REDUCE THE MDC POPULATION. THEY APPROVED SCALING BACK THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS BY 1 PERCENT … FORCING SOME EMPLOYEES TO TAKE UNPAID DAYS OFF … AND CUTTING TRAVEL.
THE ADJUSTMENTS ARE NEEDED BECAUSE OF A 19 MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL BROUGHT ON, FOR THE MOST PART, BY INVESTMENT LOSSES, AND THE COURT-ORDERED MOVEMENT OF INMATES OUT OF STATE.
