Jefferson County’s 2010 budget would bring back all county employees by October, but it is not clear whether all employees would be back full-time, county officials said Thursday.

The county’s fiscal year begins October 1.

Jefferson County Commission President Bettye Fine Collins

“We have not crossed that bridge,” Collins said.

Interim Finance Director Travis Hulsey told the commissioners that trends across the county are showing reduced revenue for municipal governments. While the recession might be ending, there would likely be some lag time before governments such as Jefferson County saw a rebound in revenues.

The county is seeking a $25 million bridge loan from Regions Bank. If the county received that loan, the county could possible hire back all employees full time, Collins said.

“If we get the bridge loan, my recommendation would be that we return them back to 40 hours per week,” Hulsey said.

Commissioner Bobby Humphryes was displeased by the news. According to Humphryes, county staff had previously told him that the 2010 budget would bring back all employees full-time.

The new budget does not include merit pay raises and fills no vacancies.

“Our primary focus is to bring employees back to work,” Collins said.

Commissioners also learned that the county would be able to reopen two satellite courthouses — one on Green Springs Highway and another in Center Point — possibly by the end of the month. On Tuesday, the commission voted to bring back 40 employees in the revenue department to help the county collect and process license fees and taxes. Once those employees are back, it will take roughly a week to get the two offices running again, Hulsey said.