MARION (WSIL) -- The COVID-19 pandemic is prompting local leaders to look ahead to next year's budget, where a shortfall is looming.
The Williamson County Board held a special meeting Monday to propose voluntary furloughs as a way to thin staff and soften the blow to next year's budget.
"[The county] cannot sustain the staffing levels that we currently have compared to the projection in revenue reduction," said county board chairman Jim Marlo.
Rhett Barke, the board's labor attorney, estimates losses to be between 10% and 40%, or a revenue loss between $708,000 and $1.7 million. County Commissioner Ron Ellis says they need to act now so they can make up fewer losses next year.
"We're not able to run at a deficit like Springfield... and Washington D.C.," Ellis said. "We literally have to pay our bills as they come due."
50 employees are currently working from home, Barke said, which costs the county roughly $31,000 a week. Barke adds that voluntary furloughs could save about $38,000 a week, with savings going to the county's general fund.
But there's uncertainty over which department will take the biggest hit, says Jerry Womick, a business manager at Laborers' Local 773. Womick says he needs to know how many employees may be affected so union members can plan accordingly.
"We understand there's a pandemic... but we need facts just like the board is working off of to base our decisions on," Womick said.
County commissioner Brett Gentry said the county recorded about 40 voluntary furloughs Monday and expects to have a complete number by Tuesday.
