Danville’s constitutional offices — treasurer, commissioner of the revenue, sheriff, commonwealth’s attorney and clerk of Circuit Court — are all going to feel the state’s budget cuts this year.
The state normally shares the cost of paying constitutional office staff, with the localities picking up the rest of the cost of operating the offices.
Based on a “caboose budget amendment” signed by former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine in December, state cuts include each person in the offices having to take an unpaid furlough day and cuts in state funding of retirement and health insurance benefits.
Lynwood Barbour, Danville’s treasurer, said his office and the office of the commissioner of the revenue will be closed tomorrow for the furlough day.
“We decided to do it on Good Friday to be of least inconvenience to the public,” Barbour said.
Barbour said the state will not be contributing its share of retirement and health insurance benefits for the months of February, March and April.
Cynthia Thomasson, the city’s budget director, said the overall budget for constitutional offices is down more than $400,000 for the 2011 fiscal year, which begins July 1.
“We’re making up some of the shortfall, but not all of it,” Thomasson said. “The city is funding the Sheriff’s office furlough day; there are already eight vacancies, and it’s a safety issue.”
Other offices will have to arrange furlough days, she said.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Newman said his staff would probably take their furlough days separately.
“The commonwealth’s attorney’s office can’t shut down,” Newman said. “We’re gong to have to piecemeal the furloughs.”
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