Second round of talks about budget planned

A commissioner wants officials and department heads front and center.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull County Commissioner Daniel E. Polivka attempted the slash-and-burn method of budgeting, only to get more time to think about it.
With the half-hearted support of Commissioner James G. Tsagaris, they agreed Wednesday to talk some more with elected officials and department heads about their fiscal needs.
Commissioner Paul Heltzel said there has been enough talk and it's time to pass the $40.9 million proposed 2006 budget.
Polivka, however, charged that passage now would be irresponsible.
Polivka now wants more than $1 million of the proposed $40.9 million budget to be set aside to maintain county buildings and replace vehicles.
He doesn't want to budget all of the county's projected income because of economic uncertainties, especially the continued viability of Delphi Packard Electric Systems.
Heltzel had said there is already $1.6 million in discretionary funds built into the budget.
Polivka's proposals
Polivka went through a litany of 55 cuts during the morning meeting. The list called for reducing the sheriff's budget by $210,000, including $100,000 for salaries.
Polivka has previously supported adding to the sheriff's staff so that road patrols can be restored.
Chief Deputy Ernie Cook said a budget cut wouldn't allow for the return of patrols. Cook told Polivka that the sheriff has had 22 positions vacant since 2002.
In developing the cuts, Polivka explained that he took the average amount appropriated during the previous four years to come up with an amount.
Heltzel said Polivka should have a better rationale for making the cuts other than what was budgeted over the past four years.
In arguing for more time before passing the budget -- commissioners have until March 31 -- Polivka said he needed a half a day "to hash this out."
Budget hearings were conducted by the commissioners in December.
Heltzel questioned Polivka about the time it has taken for him to study the proposed budget. Adopting it was put off last week at Polivka's urging.
Polivka replied that he didn't realize the total amount of the annual appropriation. Polivka pointed out that some departmental budgets would be increased by 50 percent, and budget passage would be a "shotgun approach."
"We don't want to shotgun anything," Tsagaris replied. He agreed with Heltzel that the commissioners have already talked to public officials about their budget requests.
Heltzel said that he would expect to see budget increases if departments have been underbudgeted in previous years.
yovich@vindy.com