MAHONING COUNTY Officials approve budget of $53M

The sheriff's department and juvenile court didn't get all they requested.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County's budget picture has brightened a little this year, but there's still little room for optimism, budget director Elizabeth Sublette said.
County commissioners approved an additional $41 million in appropriations to general fund departments Thursday. Combined with $12 million in temporary appropriations commissioners passed in December, the overall general fund budget for this year is $53 million.
Sublette said that's nearly 3.5 percent less than commissioners budgeted last year. They've had to cut back because of declining revenue.
Sublette said she had originally planned to have $48 million available this year. However, the county auditor's office refinanced some county debts at the end of 2003, which Auditor George Tablack said should make available an additional $3 million this year.
Appropriated carryover
The county also planned to keep a $2 million carry-over this year, but commissioners decided instead to appropriate that money, Sublette said.
Commissioners have until April 1 to pass the final budget for the year, but Commissioner Ed Reese said they decided to do it now. Tablack said having a budget in place allows for better planning for expenditures by his office.
The largest appropriation is $13.5 million for the sheriff's department. Sublette said the department received the same amount in 2003, but spent $13.2 million.
Sheriff Randall Wellington had requested $17.9 million this year, saying he needed it for upgrades at the county jail. He also wants to give raises to his deputies, who have not had a pay increase in more than two years.
"My duty is to live within what I'm budgeted," Wellington said. "That is what I've done in the past, and it's what I'll do this year."
Less for judge
Commissioners budgeted $5.7 million for the juvenile court, even though juvenile Judge Theresa Dellick had asked for $6.5 million.
Judge Dellick sued commissioners last year when they failed to appropriate the full amount she had requested for operation of the court system. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled in her favor.
Judge Dellick could not be reached to say whether she will sue again this year. Court administrator Eva Burris had not seen the final budget and declined to comment.
Judge Timothy P. Maloney of probate court also successfully sued commissioners for more money last year. He was appropriated $904,051 for this year, which is what he'd requested. That's about $50,000 less than he was budgeted last year.
bjackson@vindy.com