What Happened?
An accounting firm, hired by the government of Palm Beach County, has recommended eliminating more than 900 jobs to cut spending.
The Details
Palm Beach County, the largest county in Florida, comprises a diverse population, including Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach, and other wealthy coastal towns. The county is facing a $15 million budget shortfall, caused primarily by the economy’s impact on tax revenues; county debts also contribute to the budget challenge.
The Recommendations
Gov1 secured a copy of the actual recommendations, which were crafted by the accounting firm of Gerstle, Rosen & Goldenberg. According to the report, positions that could be outsourced include “aquatics supervisors” (lifeguards), golf operations employees, secretaries, computer specialists, park district managers, security guards, plumbers and mechanics.
In addition, the proposal would eliminate duplicated and redundant operations across the county, including property appraisers, election supervisors, tax collectors, technology employees, financial experts, IT services, and other positions.
Positions at nearly every town department were included in the report: Public Affairs, Parks and Recreation, Facilities, Engineering & Public Works, Public Safety, Planning and Zoning, Community Services, and Environmental Resource Management.
Some groups that weren’t ripe for outsourcing were deemed revenue opportunities. For example, the report recommended that the Office of Small Business charge a $300 fee for expedited requests.
The Upshot
In truth, not all those employees would lose their jobs. In most cases, the positions would be outsourced to a third-party, and outsourcing contracts can require that the third-party hire the existing employees. Under the Gerstle proposal, nearly 700 jobs could be outsourced.
Some Action items
A copy of the complete 82-page report, complete with marked-up organizational charts and budget impact, can be downloaded here.
The latest details on the budget issues in Palm Beach County can be found in this Orlando Sentinel article.
Details and a copy of the county’s 2012 budget can be found at the town’s Web site:
County Commissioner Shelley Vana, who engaged the firm to conduct the efficiency study, can be reached at svana@pbcgov.org or (561) 355-2203.
The firm of Gerstle, Rosen & Goldenberg, which conducted the efficiency study for the Palm Beach County government, can be found at gerstlerosen.com