At a retreat held by Surry County commissioners Friday, the overall theme of budget cuts resonated throughout the day. The word that Chairman Craig Hunter used continuously to describe the economic downturn was “tsunami.”

In order to keep the county’s budget in line, commissioners agreed that cutting funding to outside agencies is one way to stay on track.

“I think we should take a position with the tsunami that we are facing — we are not going to be able to fund outside agencies. That’s where we are at today. It doesn’t mean we won’t review them at budget time,” Hunter said. “We will stick with what we’ve committed to, but right now, we can’t afford any new requests.”

Vice Chairman Paul Johnson responded, “I would take it further. I think we shouldn’t take new requests and future requests. At budget time, we let those groups come before us and lobby us and somehow they get their way. In their eyes, we always we have money.”

The outside agencies commissioners were talking about included the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, recreation centers, arts councils, senior centers, community centers, anything not in the realm that has to have county funding to stay afloat, Johnson said.

Hunter said with the economy being in a downturn, the commissioners have to firmly consider what things the board needs to fund going forward. He said Johnson was on track.

“I think Paul’s comment is right on — we always get lobbied,” Hunter said. “We have a trend that is spooking us. The fear is this on the revenue side. It is the reality of what we are doing.”

Commissioner Bill Hamlin took a lighter approach.

“We need to look at everything on an individual basis,” said Hamlin.

Commissioner Jim Harrell Jr. said the board has been willing to fund the museum and hospice in the past, but in the future, the commissioners need to re-evaluate that spending.

“It adds to the community and cultural part of Surry County, but it’s not our responsibility,” Harrell said.

Commissioner Jimmy Miller suggested that agencies which typically get money from the board need to be put on alert. Hunter agreed, saying that those who are asking for money need to be aware that money is tight and the board is going to be united in saying no to new projects in the coming budget year.

“I can’t be picked apart any more than I was last year, so I’m ready,” Johnson noted.

Hunter said that he knows that people and organizations are struggling, but, he added, it is not the county commissioners who need to pick up the slack.

“Our non-profits are struggling more than they ever have. The food pantries, churches, youth foundations are at all-time lows. All I’m saying is — this is when we are supposed to lead, and there is a fine balance to that. I think if you continue to work toward that you can look yourself in the mirror and still be proud of what you’ve done.

“My thought on any outside agency is that they will come, and we will keep the commitments that we have already made, but we need to tell them that we are funding you the same way we did last year,” Hunter said.

“If we can broad brush that with everyone, then no one feels slighted,” he continued.

Johnson said he thinks that agencies which need funding need to look to themselves first before asking the board for money.

“I don’t disagree with helping, but they’ve all got their hands out. They’ve got to help theirselves,” Johnson said.

“One of your litmus tests is that if your community supported areas, if they would stay involved with fundraising,” Hunter said while looking at Harrell.

Johnson said that in many cases, agencies will ask the board for money before trying to raise funds or fund it themselves.

“The reality is that this is a cultural issue. We helped out because it was the right thing to do — if you need 10 gallons of paint, get the paint and paint it yourself. I think you need to teach those kids responsibility. If the building needs painting, get that 13-year-old kid and get him to paint. We thought we had instilled values with the ones taking our place. We thought we were leaving the ship in good hands. That’s what you are talking about with your leadership today, we have to be good leaders,” Johnson told the group.

In the end, Hunter said he wanted to study the issues further before making any final discussions on funding, but the board had a consensus that outside agency funding was going to have to be cut from the upcoming budget.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.