In light of the recent slashing of state and federal funding, Alachua County Board of County Commissioners discussed Tuesday how those cuts could affect county employees.
County Manager Randall Reid said county employees haven’t received raises in four years even though the Gainesville City Commission and UF have given raises to their employees.
“It is frustrating for them to see that other entities are giving raises and we’re not,” he said.
He cautioned that the big-ticket items the county is considering, such as a program to assess storm water and a new roof for the Alachua County Jail, could drain money the county needs to retain good employees.
County Commissioner Mike Byerly said he believes the best way to approach the budget is to distribute funds to departments based on projects.
For example, instead of giving the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office a set amount and leaving it to distribute the money to its various programs, the Commission would decide how much money would go to the jail, patrol and other services.
Byerly also said that since the Commission had issues with the Sheriff Office’s budget last year, it should take a closer look at the money it distributes.
“The sheriff ended up not accepting that budget but suing us,” he said.
He said he would like for county departments, including the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, to create a list of what’s important in the department and what isn’t.
“If [the sheriff] doesn’t want to provide a list of those things, then I’m going to go in there and find them,” Byerly said.
