State cuts concern Columbiana Co.

December 10, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Columbiana County Commissioner Penny Traina

LISBON

The Columbiana County commissioners on Wednesday had a dark view of how state budget cuts might affect the county in 2011.

Commissioner Jim Hoppel said the outlook is gloomy.

“It will be a big effort balancing the state budget,” he said.

Penny Traina, president of the commissioners, said the economic picture overall “is very dismal.”

That goes for the state and counties alike, she said.

She said nothing has been set in stone but added, “Fiscally, we do not see anything good” coming from the state.

Traina said one option she had heard from the state debate on cutting costs was “looking at not mowing the lawn” at state facilities.

The county by law makes appropriations on a calendar year. But the state budget begins July 1. Traina feared the county could begin spending local government funds from the state only to have them reduced or eliminated in the middle of 2011.