Columbiana Co. officials plan careful spending

Photo

Columbiana County Commissioner Penny Traina

Staff report

LISBON

The Columbiana County commissioners will have less money to work with next year.

Penny Traina, the president of the commissioners, said Wednesday that the general fund that funds most county operations will be $831,000 less in 2011 than in 2010.

The county general fund was set at $17,890,000 for 2010 but is estimated to be $17,059,000 in 2011.

The commissioners plan to be cautious in spending in order to have some money left at the end of 2011.

Commissioner Jim Hoppel said that the local government funds from the state to the county was cut by the state several years ago, and the county lost $67,000 in revenue.

Hoppel said that revenue is difficult to project. Despite a poor economy, sales-tax revenue this year is $53,000 higher than expected, while filings at the county recorder’s office and interest on county investments are down.