By Stan Matthews
County Communications Program Manager
If the Council approves, many County offices will provide “counter service” and other public services for fewer hours per day. County Administrator Pete Rose says that the step is proposed in light of workforce cutbacks, to give County workers additional time to take care of office work.
Currently, most County offices are open to the public from at least 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The proposal calls for financial departments – the Auditor, Treasurer and Assessor to offer service at their counters and via telephone beginning at 10 a.m.
The Health and Community Services and Community Development and Planning Departments would both be open from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. and by appointment. At this point court services have not announced plans to change hours.
The proposal to be considered by the County Council will give the County Administrator Authority to set the reduced hours for a period of six months. After that time the Council will re-evaluate the situation.
The reduction in hours will not affect the availability of law enforcement and other emergency services provided by the County.
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