COLUMBIANA COUNTY Budget requests exceed projected revenue by $1.9M

County officials plan to ask voters to renew two taxes.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Budget requests for 2005 top projected revenue by about $1.9 million, according to figures presented at Columbiana County's annual budget hearing.
No one except members of the press appeared for Wednesday's hearing, but that's not unusual as county officials compile what's been called "the wish list."
But Commissioner Sean Logan said the spending requests aren't out of line.
"I've found officials are very responsible in their requests," Logan said. "We just can't afford them."
Commissioners are looking at budget requests of $20 million and estimated revenue of $18.1 million for 2005. Commissioners said they plan to have elected officials discuss their proposed budgets during upcoming meetings.
Logan noted that commissioners by law each July must work on a budget using revenue and spending estimates for the next 18 months.
Bulk of funding
The county's two sales taxes and the state's local government fund, which is a share of five state taxes, provide the majority of the county's funding, Logan said.
"Seventy-eight percent of our revenue is economy-sensitive," Logan said. He expects the sales taxes will bring in about $11.7 million this year.
The budget also has some quirks, such as an increase for juvenile detention after a credit reduced costs in 2002.
"We'll be taking all this into consideration and have to come up with a budget," Commissioner Jim Hoppel said.
Nancy Milliken, the county auditor, said the county has spent $9.5 million so far this year, though receipts have only totaled $9.3 million. The county is still in the black because of money left at the end of 2003.
That year, the county had its highest revenues -- $21.3 million -- and its highest spending -- $20 million. In 2002, the county took in $19.2 million and spent $17.1 million. But those figures include spending outside the general fund.
Sales tax renewal
Commissioners plan to place renewal of the county's 1-percent sales tax on the November ballot. The second and last hearing on that will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the commissioners' office.
That tax has brought in about $7.5 million a year. Milliken said the tax has raised $3.8 million so far in 2004, compared with $3.5 million at this time in 2003.
The county's 0.5-percent sales tax has brought in about $1.8 million so far this year, compared with $1.7 million at this time in 2003.
Commissioners have also begun the legal steps to place a renewal of a 0.75-mill levy on the November ballot. Voters approved the levy in 2000.
Eileen Dray-Bardon, director of the county's Job and Family Services, said the levy brings in about $900,000 a year. The money goes to provide food, clothing and shelter for neglected children.
wilkinson@vindy.com