Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winter recently talked with other constitutional officers and department heads in Chattooga County and spoke with them about taking furlough days to help reduce the county’s expenses between now and the end of the year.  The commissioner had asked that each constitutional officer or department head take one furlough day each month between now and the end of the year.

So far the Commissioner has not had a lot of cooperation.  Winters released this statement on Wednesday:

The need to reduce spending is imperative.  I regret that several of the county’s elected officials have informed me that they will not participate in helping to reduce the county’s expenses by taking one furlough day a month.  As of Wednesday, Judge Jerry Westbrooks, Solicitor Buddy Hill, Sheriff John Everett and Clerk of Court Lann Cordle have indicated that they will not participate in taking furlough days to help reduce the county’s expenses.  Judge Tracy Maddux, Judge Jon Payne, Judge Sam Finster and Tax Commissioner Kathy Brown have yet to respond and indicate if they will take the furlough days I requested each of the constitutional officers and their departments to take.  As commissioner, I have already taken a furlough day this month.  In these tough economic times this is one way that we, as the elected officials in Chattooga County, can save money without causing undue hardship on one particular person or department.  Just as families in Chattooga County constantly have to make tough choices about spending, the county government must make decisions that will reduce spending. I will continue to find ways to reduce the spending in Chattooga County government and seek more cooperation from the other elected officials in this endeavor.