Spurred by forecasted dips in property- and gross-receipts tax revenues, Santa Fe County has decided to take belt-tightening measures designed to save the county $4.7 million in the next fiscal year.

County Manager Roman Abeyta said Tuesday the measures are temporary, but could become permanent and more numerous next month when more is known about the revenue.

Measures that have been or will be taken, and the amount they are expected to save the county are as follows:

• Reduction of take-home vehicles: $100,000

• Cutting travel expenses by 10 percent: $241,741

• Decreasing supplies by 10 percent: $306,164

• Cutting contractual services by 10 percent: $1 million

• Hiring freeze for non-essential positions: $200,000

• Enforcing stricter energy-efficiency measures: $250,000

• Eliminate adolescent recovery program: $400,000

• Freeze merit increases: $270,000

• Limit capital purchases: $2 million

Abeyta said because only 16 percent of the county's budget comes from gross-receipts taxes, shortfalls there would not effect the county as seriously as it would the city.

He said more will be known in December about property-tax and GRT income. "At that point we might have to make the soft hiring freeze a hard hiring freeze," and make more cuts countywide, Abeyta said.

In a "worst-case scenario" modeled by county staff (in which property taxes are 10 percent lower that forecasted and GRT revenue is 20 percent lower), the county would need to make another $493,123 worth of cuts to cover a possible $5.2 million shortage.

Contact Phaedra Haywood at 986-3068 or phaywood@sfnewmexican.com