Columbiana Co. panel splits over amount of money available

LISBON — Columbiana County officials split on a vote that either will be a good move or a bad move, depending on the economy.

The county budget commission voted today to increase the certification of money the county can spend an additional $700,000 for general operations.

The commission is composed of Auditor Nancy Milliken, Prosecutor Robert Herron, and Treasurer Nick Barborak.

The commission certifies the amount of money the county has to spend. The county commissioners then appropriate the funds.

The county’s 2008 budget is $18.8 million. The county ended 2007 with a $981,281 surplus.

Milliken, a Republican, wanted to certify about $400,000 of the surplus for general spending in case the economy worsens.

But Herron and Barborak, who are Democrats, certified $700,000.

The county is normally short on cash at the beginning of the year and has to wait for sales tax receipts and real estate tax collections to come in.

Milliken said, “There is not a lot of wiggle room” with the year-end cash balance.

The auditor said she watches the cash balances constantly so the county won’t overestimate its revenue.

Milliken added that she was concerned that county receipts could tumble if the economy goes into a recession. That, she said, could lead to layoffs.

But Herron and Barborak said the $700,000 was conservative enough, and there was an economic cushion of $281,000 that hasn’t been certified in case there is a recession.

For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.