County Employees Brace for More Cuts

More than 3,000 county employees will see a five percent cut in their pay as county commissioners race to trim $20 million by October 1st.

The tight economy continues to effect El Paso County.

More than 3,000 people who work for the county are feeling the pinch as every employee will see their pay checks slashed by 5% come october.

"I just had my baby and I don't have money to do the things I want to do because it's tight, the budget is tight and it's unfortunate," said Annette Thompson. She is just one of many who are angry with county coMmissioners.

But, commissioner Dan Haggerty says the 5% pay cut is the only way the county could save an estimated $9 million.

Haggerty is thankful the county won't have to furlough its employees at the moment, but the commissioner says this is only the beginning of the cuts and anything is on the table.

"We'll go with the 5% cuts, but we still need to cut $14 million," Haggerty said. "Furloughs still may be a possibility because I'm going to make this work."

Thompson contends that furloughs would be devastating and unfair.

"It's not fair that we work a day and don't get paid. it's really hard to live in El Paso with these kinds of paychecks we're receiving," Thompson said. "It's ridiculous, I don't think it's fair at all."
 

El Paso County has a yearly budget of $205 million. Commissioners don't want to raise taxes and Haggerty said pay cuts is the only way the budget has a chance to be balanced.