Discussions between the Franklin County Commission and the county's unions continue as options to reduce a budget shortfall remain open-ended.
The county commission in recent weeks has considered cost-cutting steps such as a 5 percent wage cut, a one-day-a-month furlough and layoffs. But no decisions have been made.
Commission chairman Rick Miller said not all unions have been contacted by County Administrator Fred Bowen about the county's plan, but he hopes all will be informed by the end of next week.
According to Miller, the county faces a $680,000 deficit, caused by a 19 percent drop in budgeted sales tax revenue in May.
In April, sales tax revenue was down 9 percent.
Miller suspects the drop comes from declining car sales.
"We have no idea why we're slowing down in revenue," he said. "To make that big of a cut, it must be something huge like car sales."
Last month, the deficit was estimated at $595,000.
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No layoffs, service cuts or significant interruptions of planned projects are expected, so far, said city, county and port officials interviewed by the Herald.
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There are no plans in the Ben Franklin Transit 2012 budget to lay off workers, eliminate routes or cut services.
The budget as written also does not propose raising fares, but transit officials said that might be considered in 2012.
Instead, transit staff are trying to keep close to current 2011 spending, said Kathy McMullen, Benton Franklin Transit service development manager.
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