Budget pains mount for commissioners
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley was the bearer of more bad news to the county commissioners at this week's commission meeting.
Fawley presented a year-by-year listing of general fund budget appropriations from 1982-2009, followed by the county's anticipated receipts for 2010. For comparison, the county's general fund budget appropriations were $11,516,045 in 2008. For 2010, Fawley estimates total receipts of $7,946,685, a difference of almost $3.6 million from last year.
"So, from 2008-2010 we're going down over $3.5 million?" Commissioner
Shane Wilkin asked.
"This is my best estimate," Fawley said.
The last time the county's general fund budget appropriations were below $8 million was in 2000, when they were $7,690,629.
Fawley estimates the county will have approximately a $210,000 "carry-over" balance on Jan. 1, 2010, barring any unforeseen additional expenses.
"We've never had lots and lots of carry-over," Fawley told commissioners. "The part {of the anticipated receipts for 2010} that's up in the air is the permissive (sales) tax. When unemployment runs out, people are going to quit buying."
Fawley said the county's biggest reduction in revenue is in the permissive tax from 2009 to 2010. The county also has experienced reductions in conveyance fees (title transfers) and recording fees. Interest income also is down considerably from a year ago, Fawley said.
Commissioner Gary Heaton asked Fawley, "If all of our budget cuts were in place for the whole year, where would we be?"
Fawley said he would have to check the numbers, but felt confident the reductions would get the county below the $9 million mark.
"I'm fairly confident we're below $9 million," Heaton said. "Hopefully, we're close to $8.5 million."
"We don't like the cuts anymore than anyone else does," Commissioner Tom Horst said. "But we did what we had to do. Even with the $210,000 carry-over, we will need to borrow more money to meet our January obligations. The carry-over, if we still have it, will not cover our first two weeks of January."
Horst cited total payroll, PERS, Medicare, insurance and other expenses that will easily exceed the anticipated carry-over by the third week of January.
* In other business, Wilkin announced that the Highland County Administration Building will be closed on Nov. 27, the Friday after
Thanksgiving.
* Dori Bishop of Highland County Recycling updated the commissioners on a recent grant application and also in regard to an ongoing problem with people placing non-recyclable waste in Dumpsters designated for recycling.
"It's getting worse," Bishop said. "Steve Pence {from the city of Hillsboro Street Department} has been very helpful. He said he would speak to Ralph Holt {Hillsboro safety and service director}."
Bishop said they could use someone with a truck who was willing to haul the waste to a proper dumping location.
Commissioners approved the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:
Commissioners approved the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:
* The modification with the Board of Elections from Workers Compensation to Salary-Employees ($3,734.63); Supplies ($1,000); Contracts & Services ($500); and Salary Part-Time ($1,500), for a total amount of $6,734.63.
* The modification with the Board of Developmental Disabilities from Other Expense to Advertising and Printing, in the amount of $1,846.
* The modification within the Board of Developmental Disabilities budget from Contracts and Services to Contracts and Repairs, in the amount of $6,000.
* The modification within the Board of Developmental Disabilities budget from Contracts and Services to Contracts and Repairs, in the amount of $6,000.
* The modification with the Board of Developmental Disabilities from Other Expense to Contracts and Services, in the amount of $4,000.
* The establishment of a new line item to be known as "eFMAP" within the board of Developmental Disabilities budget.
* The authorization of additional appropriation within the County General Fund from unappropriated funds to Supplies, in the amount of
$12,000, from a grant for Economic Development.
* The authorization of additional appropriation within the Highland
County Board of Elections budget from unappropriated funds to ADA Grant, in
the amount of $5,327.62.
* The authorization of additional appropriation within the Highland County Children Services budget from unappropriated funds to Other Expense in the amount of $120,000.
* The agreement to rescind Resolution No. 09-349 regarding fees providing legal counsel for indigent individuals.
* The agreement to change the county plan, setting the schedule of fees providing legal counsel for indigent individuals and the agreement the reimbursement shall reduce the rate of $35 per hour to $30 per hour for both in-court and out of court. This will be effective Oct. 28, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2009, and the rate will be reverted back on Jan. 1, 2010 to $35 per hour.
All requests for appointed counsel fee submitted to the court on or after Oct. 28, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2009 will be subject to the reduced rate.
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