| Katelyn Polantz

katelyn.polantz@roanoke.com, 381-1669

Two Montgomery County offices have cut six staff positions since July, and three employees will be laid off by the end of the year, officials said this week.

The treasurer's office and commissioner of the revenue's office were required to reduce their staffs by five positions each in fiscal year 2011, which began July 1, because of state budget cuts.

Three layoffs in the revenue commissioner's office haven't been determined yet, Deputy Commissioner Alice Jones said. The office, which handles real estate records and assessments, has until Jan. 1 to decide what positions to cut.

One staff member has left and one position has stayed vacant this year, bringing the office's reduction total to five by January, Jones said.

Treasurer Richard Shelton said three of his employees have already been let go.

Two other employees who are still working will leave before year's end, Shelton said. All were notified weeks ago, he said.

The cuts affect tax technicians, who help residents, and, in the treasurer's office, a supervisor and a senior tax technician.

"We'll make it happen," Shelton said of his office's workload, which will be handled by 12 staff members instead of 17. "The need will still be there, but technology will help absorb some of that workload."

The office plans to implement a computer-based process for citizens to pay their taxes in the coming year.

The state decreased its funding to the county by $9.8 million, or 15 percent, according to county spokeswoman Ruth Richey. The county absorbed some of that loss, but chose not to fill 13 full-time vacant positions in other departments in addition to layoffs, according to the year's approved budget.