Combined, the reductions could save about $222,000 in annual employee expenses.
Jailer Bobby Stone indicated that the jail could sustain the cuts. However, the Fire Department will need to close its station on Fulton Road if the personnel reductions are approved. Fire stations on Barnes Drive and in Trapp would remain staffed.
Court members lamented the probability of eliminating jobs, and some predicted that local residents will not agree with the proposals. Still many remained adamant that cuts are necessary to keep the county government solvent in the down economy.
"We were making some cuts that we don't like to make," said Seventh District Magistrate John Henry Ramsey. "I think everybody understands that things are tight. We are not the only county. We are probably in better shape than about 90 percent of the counties."
Aside from employee reductions, court members have carved out thousands in proposed spending since talks began Monday. Cuts have focused mostly on smaller line-item expenses such as capital outlay, equipment allocations and gear and supplies.
But even some larger projects could face the chopping block, including funding for the $3.3 million indoor pool project at College Park Gym. Some seem reluctant to approve the expenditure under current budget constraints.
"I mean it's a great thing, but if you can't afford it, you can't afford it," said Fourth District Magistrate Steve Palmer.
By the end of the meeting Tuesday, Fiscal Court was grappling with about $11.3 million of proposed expenses and $10.8 million in projected revenue. Of that, $7.7 million of expenses are booked in the general fund along with $7.2 million in revenue.
Elsewhere in the draft budget, the road fund is expected to total about $1.6 million in 2009-10, and the jail fund will slightly exceed $1.8 million.
County Judge-Executive Henry Branham said the court has focused mostly on the expense side of the budget rather than revenues. But he said discussing personnel reductions was "somber."
"It was tough on us because we knew we were talking about people," he said. "We are just trying to make the best decisions for the county."
The court is scheduled to hold a final budget workshop, starting at 9:30 a.m. Monday. County budgets require two votes from the court and approval from the state before taking effect.
Contact Mike Wynn at mwynn@winchestersun.com.
