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County braces itself for possible shutdown

By Sara Quam
With the state warning of a possible government shutdown, the Rock County Board of Commissioners discussed a plan during its Tuesday meeting.

Gov. Jesse Ventura has said that the shutdown will come July 1, the start of the fiscal year, if legislators can't reach a budget compromise.

The issue is this: The Republican-controlled House wants minimal increases in state spending and is pushing for bigger property tax reductions. The DFL-controlled Senate wants more spending increases for education and is resisting the sizable tax cuts for commercial and industrial properties.

Services and functions provided by the government will stop for a time if an agreement isn't reached.

How this all affects Rock County is still a little unclear. So much of the counties' functions are funded by the state or are occupied by state personnel.

Commissioner Jane Wildung said the board's main focus should be what services the county's residents need or could be without. The shutdown, she said, "is no way to be partners in providing services."

County Administrator Kyle Oldre said, "If they're going to shut down, we're not going to cover up for their ineptitude in settling a budget."

County reserves could provide much of the services, but going without the state funding for even a short time would put the county in a financial position commissioners don't want to be in.

Chairman Ken Hoime said, "We have to assume the way it looks today that we need a plan."

The board members agreed that the shutdown is enough of a scare tactic to push legislators to agree on some issues but also agreed that planning for the worst scenario is wise leadership.

Essential employees like law enforcement wouldn't be subject to the furlough. However, the county doesn't know if court employees who deal with people in the criminal justice system are also considered "essential."

Oldre said, "It's really muddy, muddy water."

The county is asking department heads to come up with plans in the event of a shutdown. The commissioners said they think the state will settle on a budget, but if not, the county will have a plan in place to approve at its July 3 meeting.

State employees that are considered non-essential make up about half the stateÕs workforce. In the event of a shutdown, they will be placed on unpaid leave until July 14. Then they would be eligible for severance pay up to 40 percent of unused sick time or cash for unused vacation or compensatory time.

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