Cuts Aid Optimistic County Fiscal Outlook

County officials will present a fairly optimistic financial outlook today during a Board of Supervisors study session to review the current fiscal budget and look ahead to next year.

Because of aggressive cost-cutting by department managers, officials estimate the county will have $38.6 million at the end of fiscal 1996, and that money can be carried over to next year’s budget. The new fiscal year begins in July.

“The department heads have done a great job in doing what they can to conserve and not spend,” county spokeswoman Lynn Fishel said.

If the county’s projections hold, officials said, they will be able to balance the 1996-97 budget without making the kinds of sharp cutbacks required last year because of the bankruptcy.

Fishel said, however, Chief Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier has instructed department heads to scrutinize their 1996-97 budget for fat and consider eliminating some vacant positions.

One unresolved issue in this year’s budget remains trial-court funding. The county last week allocated about $5 million to the courts, which still might be forced to close in May if they do not receive an additional $20 million from the state.