Strategy to save money pays off

The commissioners have been able to save almost $1 million.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- The Columbiana County commissioners' plan to conserve money after a sales tax loss appears to be working.
The commissioners approved a $4.1 million appropriation package Wednesday to get the county through the first quarter of 2006.
The commissioners approved the revenue last week and asked officeholders to have it appropriated by this week. Commissioner Chairman Jim Hoppel said commissioners are required by law to approve the line item expenses for all offices by Jan. 1.
There were a few glitches, but commissioners said they worked with officials to get those problems resolved. There were no major problems or layoffs.
"We're good to go," said Commissioner Sean Logan. "We're good to operate."
Voters rejected a 0.5-percent sales tax in November that would have raised $4 million a year. Commissioners plan to put the issue on the May ballot. If voters approve the tax, the county won't receive any money until 2007.
The county spends about $18 million a year and the commissioners hope they can squeak through with about a $16 million budget.
After mopping up 2005 bills, commissioners expect to have about $700,000 in unspent money.
County Auditor Nancy Milliken said the county will also end this year with about $250,000 in savings in health insurance costs. The county got a lower rate by switching companies and has had few insurance claims, she said.
Milliken said the ultimate savings in the health insurance program will depend on the number and size of medical bills.
But the county should see more savings in health insurance costs. Milliken said that if officials keep overall spending down, the county can pay insurance payments from operating funds instead of dipping into money earmarked for insurance.
A little more income also came in the December check for the 1 percent sales tax, which was $106,000 higher than December's payment in 2004, Logan said.
The county also plans to divert some payments, possibly until 2007. Logan said the county did not budget all of its costs to the private operators of the county jail or the Multi-County Juvenile Attention System. The county would probably plan to pay them in 2007 rather than borrow funds to pay for them this year, he said.
wilkinson@vindy.com