The Leader & State Register

BRIDGEVILLE — Bridgeville commissioners want to be prepared.

Seeking to retain firm financial footing amid a global economic downturn and the state of Delaware’s gloomy forecast, the town commission is considering a 5 percent reduction in its current fiscal year budget.

Commissioners at their Nov. 10 meeting backed commission president Joseph T. Conaway’s request to have town manager Bonnie Walls and finance director Jesse Savage examine the town’s operating budget and identify potential areas or items that can be earmarked as potential cost-savings cuts. Potential cuts are slated to be reviewed at the commission’s December meeting.

"I think we need to take some extraordinary steps to take care of ourselves," Mr. Conaway said. "We need to get ourselves in position so that we can weather these financial times so that we don’t have to inflict pain on our people (of Bridgeville)."

"One of the things this commission did this last budget year was set itself in motion so that if this depression that we are in now continues, we would have sufficient funds at hand to manage our budget for one more full year," Mr. Conaway said. "There is no indication that things are going to ease up."

The commission president’s words of caution come amid a projected state budget deficit of $300 million, possibly much greater.

"The number being tossed about is $500 million. Everybody agrees that it is at least $300 million," said Mr. Conaway. "The state of Delaware can no longer cut its way out of a budget deficit. They must now cut people.

"They are against the wall. I don’t envy the new governor, the new House and Senate as they try to find ways to make this budget work," Mr. Conaway said.

A 5 percent reduction in the current town budget would translate to about $150,000, Mr. Conaway said. Cost-cutting measures could mean purchase postponement until better financial days or eliminating items all together.

Budget preparation for Bridgeville’s $2.37 million budget adopted in early June reflected the global economic downturn. The town utilized approximately $400,000, or about half of its "rainy day fund" to balance its FY09 budget, enabling commissioners to retain existing services with no increase in property taxes.

"Bridgeville, of all of the towns, is probably in the best financial shape," Mr. Conaway said. "We want to stay that way."