Group method put on hold for budgeting

The county commissioners will have to cut spending proposals by $2.3 million.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

LISBON — Columbiana County commissioners won’t try a new method of deciding some county spending in 2008.

“There isn’t enough money to make it worthwhile,” Commissioner Dan Bing said.

Bing said the consensus method he has suggested may be tried next year.

Commissioner Jim Hoppel added that county officials are communicating on finances.

Columbiana County officials have fought with commissioners for money for years as voters either approved or turned down sales taxes.

Now with a 1-percent voter-approved sales tax and a 0.5. percent sales tax imposed by the commissioners — the most the county can have — the county has more solid funding.

Bing is a certified mediator who suggested a new method earlier this year in which officials would be formed into several groups. Each group would have a vote on proposed projects. The method can help officials to collectively set goals.

The 0.5-percent sales tax was enacted effective April 1. Because of the lag in collecting the taxes, the county has collected only $1.1 million from it so far this year, according to county Auditor Nancy Milliken.

That’s a little lower than expected, she added.

The 0.5-percent sales tax should bring in $4 million a year. The 1-percent sale tax should bring in about $8.8 million a year, she said.

What’s expected

Commissioners said they expect they will have to provide some funds to offices to allow them to finish 2007.

Hoppel said that this year, the sheriff’s office needed more money. Commissioners eventually provided more funds to lease new cruisers and hire at least two deputies.

Commissioners said they expect they will have to trim requests from officeholders in 2008.

In July, commissioners set 2008 spending at $18.8 million, which includes the 0.5-percent sales tax. Officeholders asked for $21.1 million.

Hoppel said that between now and December, commissioners will meet with officials.

“They pretty much know what we’re giving them,” Hoppel said.

Milliken said her office needs several weeks before the end of the year to put funding for 2008 into the county computer system to allow spending to continue without interruption.

wilkinson@vindy.com