County's budget alternatives 'unspeakable'

El Paso County officials painted a grim picture Tuesday of drastic cuts in services because of rising costs and lowerthan-expected revenues.

Among the possible budget cuts were laying off at least 320 employees, selling hundreds of acres of parkland, closing the Bear Creek and Fountain Creek nature centers and eliminating support for services such as the Four-H Club.

Several judges from the 4th Judicial District worried about a proposal to eliminate a program that helps determine whether accused criminals should be released from jail before trial. Eliminating the program's 11 employees would save an estimated $267,000.

The judges said they'll be less likely to grant socalled personal recognizance bonds without information from the Court Services Division. That could lead to more inmates in the county jail, already packed with inmates.

"We're talking about unspeakable alternatives," said Robert Briggle, a judge for the Colorado Springs Municipal Court, during a hearing on budget-cutting options.

The five commissioners who oversee El Paso County's $232 million budget expect to decide Thursday how to cut expenses to balance the finances.

Colorado's constitution requires a balanced budget, and it says elected officials can't increase tax rates without voter approval.

By the end of 2008, the county expects its income from taxes, fees and interest will be $3.5 million lower than projected.

Costs such as fuel and employee medical claims are expected to be $4.8 million higher than projected. In addition, the county didn't save the $500,000 it expected last year by refinancing debt.

Overall, the county needs to find $8.8 million to make its books balance by the end of the year.

Some of the biggest cuts could come from the Department of Human Services, which manages welfare programs such as food stamps, Medicaid and child protection. That department could cut its work force from 415 employees to 234.

The remaining workers would be unable to determine whether people are eligible for many programs that support the poor. People could be dropped from the programs, and the county would be in violation of state and federal laws.

Another option involved slashing $1 million from the department that builds and maintains roads. Commissioner Wayne Williams said that could be a problem given a promise political leaders made in 2004 when voters approved a sales tax for transportation projects.

The leaders said the new tax wouldn't displace money the government was already spending on transportation.

"It's not a legal issue . . . it's a moral issue and an ethical issue of whether folks can trust government," Williams said.