County Looks For Cuts, Eyes Employee Perks

A $5 million budget shortfall has Mobile County commissioners looking for cuts, and they could come at the expense of county workers.

Commissioners met Thursday to figure out how to reduce spending. One idea discussed was to eliminate employees' $5 per day lunch allowance and end of the year bonuses, which are based on years of service. Commissioners estimate the savings in the first year would add up to $2 million.

"My primary goal is not to have to lay anybody off," said District 1 Commissioner Merceria Ludgood, who supported the cuts until she learned about a lawsuit from the early 1990's, which would prohibit the commission from cutting the perks for law enforcement officers hired before August 1992. Ludgood said she couldn't support making cuts unless it was across the board.

Sheriff Sam Cochran spoke at Thursday's meeting, telling commissioners cutting the perks for any of their employees would be a bad idea.

"It would be such a huge impact on morale for such a small savings," said Cochran. "We're talking just a couple hundred dollars per employee that you're going to take away, and that's not going to solve the problems of the county right now."

Cochran urged commissioners to look elsewhere to find cuts, but Commission President Mike Dean said the alternative could mean laying off as many as 40 workers.

"We look at an idea, sometimes that idea is not too popular," said Dean. "But, we wanted the employees to know we need your help in this budget crisis."

Commissioners will meet again Monday to vote on a budget.