Budget requests seek money Columbiana Co. doesn’t have

The commissioner said
officials probably know they won’t get what they want.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

LISBON — Columbiana County officials are asking for millions of dollars in 2008 that the county won’t have.

“They are requesting $21 million next year,” Commissioner Jim Hoppel said Wednesday.

Those spending figures will have to be cut, although not right away. The proposed spending is in the county’s general fund, which runs most offices.

County officials this year expect to have $14 million in the fund. They estimate that the fund in 2008 will have $18 million.

The last time county spending was anywhere close to $18 million was in 2005, when $19.6 million was spent.

The commissioners earlier this year enacted a continuous 0.5 percent sales tax. It will bring in about $4 million a year. The county also collects a 1 percent sales tax voters approved that brings in about $8 million a year.

County Auditor Nancy Milliken said the 0.5 percent sales tax, which went into effect in April, has brought in very little so far. It takes about three months for the state to collect and distribute the tax. So little has trickled in from the 0.5 percent sales tax that she has not yet listed any projected revenue for 2008.

What’s next

Milliken said the sales tax collection figures will become clearer toward the end of the year.

Milliken said of the 2008 revenue, “It’s still going to be tight. We’re going to have to work together.”

County officials, for example, requested $20 million for operations for 2007 even though they knew revenue was going to be tight.

Hoppel said of 2008 spending, “I don’t think everyone expects to get what they asked for.”

Hoppel said he and Commissioners Penny Traina and Dan Bing will each prepare figures on spending, and try to reach a consensus.

Toward the end of 2007, Milliken and the commissioners will have a clearer picture of the revenue for next year, and the commissioners will appropriate funds for each office.

While officials can ask for financial pie in the sky, the county by law can’t spend more than it brings in.

Hoppel noted that Bing, who was absent from the meeting, wants to try to bring officials together to discuss and agree on spending — rather than fighting over money.

wilkinson@vindy.com