Board struggles to pay bill

An even larger bill is due in June.
LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners say $29,358 is still due before March 31 to a multicounty juvenile justice system that's threatening to cut services if the bill isn't paid.
Until recently, the county owed $229,358. But officials were able to pay $200,000 earlier this week.
The original $229,358 owed represents the county's first-quarter bill from the agency for its services.
"I don't have any idea at this point," how the county will come up with the $29,358 balance before the March 31 deadline, commissioner Jim Hoppel said Wednesday.
Less help available: Should the multicounty agency reduce services to the county, it would mean fewer troubled juveniles could be sent to the agency for detention, counseling and other services.
Even if the county is able to pay the $29,358 by March 31, $546,076 more will be owed the agency by June 15.
The June 15 bill represents $316,718 the county owes the agency from last year, plus the $229,358 the county will owe the agency for the second quarter of this year.
The agency is threatening to reduce services if that obligation isn't fulfilled as well.
"That's going to be real tough," Hoppel said of meeting the June 15 deadline.
The county is straining to meet financial obligations because its expenses are outpacing revenues.
Commissioners have placed on the May 7 primary ballot a measure seeking to increase the 1 percent county sales tax by half a percent.
If adopted, the measure would bring in an additional $3 million a year.