Officials approve spending plan

County officials said that 2008 spending will be tight.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

LISBON — Columbiana County’s 2008 appropriations reflect more spending on crime and a lot more on rural programs.

The county commissioners on Wednesday approved the appropriations that total $18.8 million for next year.

Officials had been asked earlier to submit their requests, which were about $3 million more than the appropriations.

Commissioner Jim Hoppel and county Auditor Nancy Millken said the spending measure is tight.

County appropriations reflect all the costs, such as insurance, for each office.

The appropriation measure reflects the 0.5-percent sales tax that the commissioners enacted in 2006. It brings in about $4 million a year. Voters earlier had approved a 1 percent sales tax that brings in about $8 million a year.

Offices and their spending include:

County Prosecutor Robert Herron’s office received $1.2 million this year. He asked for $1.7 million to keep up with rising drug cases. His office received $1.3 million for 2008.

Sheriff David Smith’s office will receive an extra $70,000 in 2008 over its $2.2 million budget for this year.

Coroner Dr. William Graham asked for $372,000 next year because of drug-related deaths. His office received $260,000, about $15,000 more than this year.

The county’s drug task force directly asked for money for the first time, but got nothing.

Hoppel said that the commissioners are aware of the costs of the growing drug problem in the county and are studying the problem.

Hoppel added that the commissioners also decided to spend more on rural programs, since agriculture is a large industry in the county. The programs traditionally have been the first to be cut.

The county’s Cooperative Extension Service, which is involved in a variety of programs including 4-H, was allocated $2,000 this year. The office, which has scraped by on donations and fundraisers, will receive $75,000 in 2008.

The county fair board, which got nothing this year, will get $7,500.

The county Soil and Water Conservation Service got $1,000 this year. It asked for $56,000, but will receive $25,000. The service offers a variety of environmental programs.

wilkinson@vindy.com