BERNALILLO COUNTY NOW HAS A BALANCED BUDGET FOLLOWING ACTION THIS WEEK TO TRIM SPENDING. COMMISSIONER WAYNE JOHNSON SAYS MORE HARD CHOICES MAY HAVE TO BE MADE. HE SAYS THERE’S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT YEAR TO MAKE SURE THEY’RE NOT IN THE SAME POSITION WITH ZERO RESERVES TO COVER ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS, LIKE THE COURT PROGRAMS.
COMMISSIONERS HAD TO MAKE UP A NEARLY 18-MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL. ADJUSTMENTS MADE TO MAKE UP FOR THE DEFICIT INCLUDE MAKING SOME EMPLOYEES TAKE SIX DAYS OFF WITHOUT PAY … CUTS TO THE JAIL … AND DOING AWAY WITH THE DISCRETIONARY FUND.
