Cash-strapped Clear Creek County cuts hours and jobs – Clear Creek Courant

Clear Creek County commissioners have been pointing to a significant budget shortfall for years. Now the county is cutting several full time positions and announcing a four-day work week to manage what officials describe as “severe revenue challenges.”

Declining sales tax revenues and state legislative actions that have reduced property tax revenue exacerbating the county’s longer-term trend of declining property tax revenue, according to county spokesperson Megan Hiler.

Four full-time positions and four unfilled positions within the county will be eliminated, according to Hiler. 

“We deeply appreciate these employees’ hard work, dedication and the positive impact they have had on our organization and community,” Hiler said. “This decision in no way reflects their job performances.”

Current employees in the positions of County Archivist, Geographic Information Systems Technician (mapping), Recreation Facilities Manager and Senior Planning Administrator will lose their jobs. 

Employees will maintain a full-time status working 32 hours a week and keep healthcare and other full-time benefits, according to County Commissioner George Marlin, who said the short week for employees is in lieu of wage increases.

“Instead of giving them the raise they deserve, we’re putting them at 32 hours so we’re giving them some time back. That’s basically to defer giving them raises,” Marlin said.

All county buildings will now be open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, according to a statement from the county.

The Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Medical Services, Transit and the Transfer Station will continue to operate as usual, the statement continued.  Public Works will continue plowing and maintaining roads as usual, but the division’s office hours will be Monday-Thursday.

“These difficult decisions were made as Clear Creek County works toward financial stability while continuing to provide essential services to our community,” Hiler said.

Since 2015, the county has made significant cuts, reducing its workforce from 228 full-time equivalents to a current staffing of 193, according to the statement.

“We know this adjustment isn’t ideal, but we appreciate the community’s understanding and patience,” said a statement attributed to the county commissioners.

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