TRUMBULL COUNTY Auditor warns of shortfalls

The greatest projected shortfall is in the sheriff's department.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Many Trumbull County departments could run out of money for employee salaries and benefits before year's end if they continue spending at the current rate, the county auditor says.
In March, Trumbull County commissioners approved a budget and explained how they plan to spend the $37.6 million the county auditor, prosecutor and treasurer agreed will be available this year.
In 21 departments, however, expenditures for salaries, retirement or insurance are outpacing the budgeted amount, according to figures prepared by the auditor's office following the last pay period.
Amounts
In many departments, projected shortfalls are only a few hundred or a few thousand dollars. But in some cases it is much larger.
The projected shortfall in salary and benefit accounts for jailers is about $169,000. In the commissioners' own office, the projected shortfall is $29,000.
"We are well aware of the shortfall," said Sheriff Thomas Altiere.
He said he met with Commissioner Daniel Polivka on Friday to see if there was any more money available for his department.
"We don't want to end up in November and have to lay half the people off," Altiere said.
The budget shortfalls could be addressed several ways: by transferring money from other accounts, by raising revenue or by reducing costs. Altiere said he hoped his department's shortfall could be bridged by taking in more paying federal inmates.
Counties are not allowed to actually go into the red through deficit spending, Auditor David Hines said.
Other projections
Other departments where payroll shortfalls are projected include the treasurer's office, $38,000; prosecutor, $62,000; victim witness office, $32,000; probate court, $28,000; clerk of courts, $92,000; coroner's office, $62,000; and adult probation, $33,000.
Many departments are required by law to provide certain services, and their staffs cannot be cut much further, Hines said.
More county revenue could take care of projected shortfalls, said county Administrator Tony Carson, whose responsibilities include preparing the budget. He said projected revenue, called a certificate, is usually changed several times before the end of the year.
Sales tax
"It is my understanding the sales tax is bringing in more revenue than anticipated," he said.
Polivka said he was studying the problem.
Commissioners are still discussing whether they will impose, or ask voters to approve, additional sales tax, Polivka said.
Last month, a one-year, 0.5 percent piggyback sales tax imposed by commissioners last year expired. A measure to make the piggyback tax permanent was resoundingly defeated at the polls in November.
Without any new tax revenue, the amount of money available to the county will drop by $6 million in 2005. That could put the county in fiscal emergency, Hines said.
After the tax failed at the polls, Hines urged commissioners to say where they would find the money to run the county for the next two years, and to lay out capitol improvement plans for the next five.
"As chief financial officers in the county, we have a responsibility to know what their plan is, if they have a plan," he said.
siff@vindy.com