With tax revenue down by about 20 percent from last year, the Dawson County Board of Commissioners will save nearly $200,000 by furloughing all full time county employees.

In a 4-0 vote, the board approved five “days of rest” for employees during last Thursday’s regular meeting.

All county offices will be closed next Friday, Sept. 4, for the first furlough day.

Employees, who will see about a 2 percent reduction in salary through the end of the year, would also be off two days in October, and one day in both November and December.

Dawson County Manager Kevin Tanner said the county has already made more than $4.5 million in cuts over the last several months and continues to “look for sustainable ways to save.”

He said the county made every effort to avoid furloughs, but was left with no other option.

“Most of our neighbors have already furloughed. We put it off as long as we could,” Tanner said.

The board could review its decision to furlough next month when the county’s finance staff presents a mid-year budget analysis to the board.