Commission takes hard stand before union talks

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yakima County commissioners signaled a tough stance in future bargaining with employee labor groups after reviewing budget cuts Tuesday that will result in 10 layoffs.

Commissioners said labor costs continue to be a contributor to expenses that are outstripping revenues during the current economic downturn.

The layoffs will take effect July 1.

"We have to have expenses be in line with revenues. That will be our bargaining position in 2011 and beyond," Chairman Mike Leita said after commissioners received a breakdown of $1.3 million in budget cuts during a public hearing.

No one testified during the hearing.

Commissioners will adopt those cuts formally next Tuesday.

The county's posture comes as no surprise to labor groups, said Yvette Lewis, staff representative for Council 2 of the Washington State Council of City and County Employees of Yakima.

The council represents the largest single group of county employees who are part of the county's general fund.

Lewis said it is too early to know how the county's financial situation will look as 2011 approaches.

"At this point, we don't know where things are going to be. Our contract is up Dec. 31. Hopefully, we will have negotiated a new agreement," she said.

More than half of the about 400 general fund employees are represented by organized labor. The county has 1,200 total employees.

The rest of this year will be a busy bargaining year for the county and its employees. Only management and officers in the Department of Corrections have contracts that extend through 2011.

One group, representing employees in county road maintenance and operations, has a wage and benefit reopener this year.

The rest of the more than a dozen bargaining agreements expire this year.

The budget reductions, which total $1.3 million, also include the elimination of six vacant positions, cuts in travel, supplies and other non-wage expenses, and use of one-time funds.

Employees in two departments, planning and human resources, agreed to furloughs. Six of the human resources employees also agreed to not being paid for holidays.

Treasurer's employees offered to take furloughs, but Treasurer Ilene Thomson decided instead to eliminate part-time help during tax season.

Those concessions expire at the end of this year.

All departments in the general fund, which finances daily operations of county departments, took a 2.5 percent across-the-board cut to balance the budget.

Two departments were able to meet their budget cut by using newly received grant funds.

The cuts will reduce the county's 2010 budget to $50.6 million.

Budget cuts are needed because of a loss in state sales tax equalization money, a commitment to repay county reserves that were used to balance the 2010 budget and declining sales tax receipts.

Commissioner Rand Elliott called the loss of staff unfortunate.

"These tough economic conditions are forcing us to make these cuts. We are committed to live within our means," he said. "These are unfortunate concessions to conditions."

* David Lester can be reached at 509-577-7674 or dlester@yakimaherald.com.