By Sara StrongThe Rock County Board of Commissioners met in a special budget session Tuesday, and will continue to do so until it comes up with at least $500,000 of cuts for 2004.Board Chair Ron Boyenga went out on a limb and listed areas he thought could be cut: o$150,000 from the Highway Departmento$150,000 from Family Serviceso$80,000 from Extensiono$40,000 from the Library and Pool and Fitness Centero$40,000 in health insurance savingso$40,000 from various other savingsThe Board has to cut the $500,000 from the portion of the budget that isn’t required spending — about $3 million.Administrator Kyle Oldre summed up the budget situation for 2004 and 2005: The county will have less money, the same mandated spending, the same expectations from citizens and more costs from the state.Commissioner Richard Bakken said, "This isn’t just talk, it’s action."The Board is meeting in closed committee sessions to talk more specifically about cuts, which could involve personnel. Oldre said he favors buy-outs, or early retirements, instead of laying off employees. Commissioner Bob Jarchow said the initial cost of the early retirements will still save the county money in a year. Jarchow said that the whole budget problem could be looked at in a positive way, because county government will be streamlined from now on.Oldre said that looking at big line items to cut isn’t adding up to $500,000 quickly, so every small expense has to be considered for a cut in coming meetings.
