$51.9M budget set for 2006

Mahoning County will not have a budget deficit, the auditor says.
By DEBORA SHAULIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County Auditor Michael V. Sciortino says county commissioners will have $51.9 million to give to its departments in 2006, and he doesn't expect that amount to change much as the new year progresses.
That's a "front-loaded" figure with "no hidden carryover," Sciortino said Wednesday, after the county budget commission issued a certificate of resources that gives the commissioners the authority to allocate funds. County commissioners meet today and are expected to approve 2006 general fund appropriations.
"Essentially it ends up that the budget commission has accepted our recommendations," said county Budget Director George J. Tablack, who with Commissioners Anthony Traficanti and David Ludt had asked the budget commission to re-examine certain figures in light of Sciortino's earlier forecast of a $9 million deficit.
The $51.9 million includes $47.7 million in revenues and a cash carryover of $4.2 million, Sciortino said.
Higher than projections
Both amounts are higher than Sciortino's previous estimates, which were based on projected revenues of $42.3 million next year -- including about $256,000 in cash carryover -- and an anticipated $51 million in expenditures to maintain current operations. Sciortino said those were preliminary figures, with "flatline projections in every revenue code."
The cash carryover -- from liquidated purchase orders, unused funds from department budgets and various fees collected by the county treasurer, clerk of courts and other offices -- means the county will not have a budget deficit, Sciortino said.
Sciortino said he believes the budget commission's certificate is accurate, because Wednesday was the last day this year that department heads could submit purchase orders to the auditor's office for payment.
The difference in revenues was based on repaying a $7.3 million note for county jail operations over five years instead of two years; an increase in estimated interest income; higher property tax collections because of new property valuations; and a $1.1 million increase in county sales tax receipts for December that was posted Wednesday, Sciortino said.
Sciortino said he included the cash carryover in the certificate of resources at the commissioners' request. Carryover from 2004 wasn't included in the initial certificate of resources for 2005 that was prepared by Tablack when he was auditor, Sciortino said.
When county commissioners met last December, they approved a temporary budget of $12 million to start 2005, Tablack said. There's good reason to include cash carryover when passing a full year's budget, which is what commissioners are expected to do this time, he said.
Auditor appointed
Sciortino was appointed auditor, which is an elected office, after Tablack resigned last July to become chief financial officer for Palm Beach County, Fla. Tablack returned to Mahoning County earlier this month to work as budget director, which is an administrative position.
Several items could lead to an amended certificate of resources in 2006, Sciortino said. Sciortino didn't adjust figures to anticipate 3 percent growth in county sales tax collections, as Tablack has predicted. Real estate tax collections and interest income also may be higher than anticipated, he said.
Those factors may increase the certificate, but only by a few million dollars, Sciortino said, noting that the 2005 certificate "moved from the original conservative $34 million to $49 million by year end."
The budget commission consists of Sciortino, county Prosecutor Paul J. Gains and Treasurer John Reardon.
Despite the $51.9 million certificate, some department heads still will not receive the full amounts they are seeking in 2006. Budget requests totaled about $58 million, Tablack said.
shaulis@vindy.com