With the economic downturn and the passing of a Florida Constitutional Amendment reducing property taxes (the main source of General Revenue funds) the Polk County Board of County Commissioners was faced with budget deficits in the tens of millions each year for budget years 2007 through 2009. During this time due to hiring freezes and reduction of unfilled positions, the Purchasing Division found ourselves short staffed as the staffing level was reduced from 14 to 10.

Faced with the same workload but fewer employees to complete the work, the Division had to take a hard look at the work each staff member was doing. Clerical work that was still being handled by procurement staff had to be reassigned. This reassignment left clerical staff overwhelmed since their numbers had been reduced as well.

Management at the Purchasing Division knew they had to be innovative and act boldly. Inmates from the Polk County Trusty Work Program had been used periodically to help with work in the Purchasing Warehouse. They had helped move furniture, re-organize and clean the warehouse. Male trusties had been used for other manual labor but never before had a trusty been used to assist with office work. Polk County found that no other County Division had ever used trusties in their offices either, but we knew this would give the Purchasing Division the extra assistance needed without any cost to the County.