Mahoning County budget panel certifies 2017 revenue

YOUNGSTOWN — In its first revenue estimate for 2017, the Mahoning County Budget Commission has certified general fund revenue of $34.3 million and criminal justice fund revenue of $28.1 million.

Today, the commission, composed of Prosecutor Paul J. Gains, Treasurer Daniel R. Yemma and Auditor Ralph T. Meacham, also left intact a 2016 revenue projection of $35 million for the general fund and $28.1 million for the criminal-justice fund.

The 2017 revenue estimate assumes the loss and nonreplacement of $1.85 million in sales-tax revenue from Medicaid managed-care organizations in the second half of 2017.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has ruled that, beginning with the state budget cycle that starts July 1, 2017, sales tax cannot be imposed on insurance companies under contract with the state to cover Medicaid, unless it is imposed on all managed-care organizations.

Medicaid is a jointly funded federal and state health insurance program for low-income people.

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com