BISBEE — Even though the economy of Cochise County is rather insulated for the rest of this fiscal year due to Fort Huachuca and the large retiree population, the belt-tightening will begin as the Board of Supervisors tries to make ends meet.

During a work session Tuesday to have a preliminary discussion on the upcoming budget year, County Administrator Mike Ortega gave the supervisors the bad news that the money coming in would not meet the money going out. A shortfall of nearly $1 million has to be made up somewhere if the current downward spiral of revenue continues.

One way to reduce the shortfall the county is seeing now as the county transaction privilege tax slips is to initiate a hiring freeze with the exception of emergency service personnel, such as deputies and county jail staff. That could save the county more than $1.8 million, Ortega said.

Promotions within the county departments, where possible, could be done in-house, leaving the entry level positions open.

Another suggestion was not received well by board Chairman Richard Searle and fellow supervisors Pat Call and Paul Newman. Ortega suggested giving the county employees a zero raise, saving $900,000. They all balked.

“We have worked so hard on keeping up the raises,” Call said. “I don’t exactly disagree with your recommendation, but maybe we’ll be able to do a 1 percent or   1 1/2 percent raise instead of the 3 percent we have been giving. I definitely want some sort of cost of living raise for the employees … We’ve been committed to taking care of the employees we have. This would be the last place to cut costs.”

Searle said that if the hiring freeze is enacted, then county employees are going to have to work harder and do more.

“That will put a lot of pressure on the employees,” he said. “We need to figure out a way to give the employees raises.”

Newman added, “I know we’re in a recession, but I want them to have an increase.”

Ortega admitted the zero salary raise was not his first choice. He said he was thinking about a plan that would give employees an extra day off with pay if there were no raises for them.

“All these belt-tightening efforts will be done without raising taxes,” Call said. “For the past two or three years we have lowered taxes.”

There will be some new hybrid wheels on the county roads in the coming months as Toyota’s Highlander, Camry and Prius are checked out for use. The Highlander is aimed for the more rugged work of the Sheriff’s Office. The idea is to save money at the gas pump. The county’s fuel bill runs half a million dollars a year and is expected to increase as the price at the pump continues to rise.

New vehicles for certain departments may be deferred for brighter days when the need arises to replace the older models as mileage and maintenance costs climb.

Even though the county may not meet estimated revenue totals this year, there are funds that have accumulated money that can be used to offset the downward turn of revenues.

Referring to Jody Klein, the former county administrator, and Lois Klein, the county finance director, Ortega told the supervisors, “My hat is off to Jody, Lois and you for putting us in this cushioned position. We have the resources to weather this.”