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Mahoning budget hearings continue with county preping for revenue loss in 2019
By Justin Wier
YOUNGSTOWN
Once again, the impending loss of revenue from a state sales tax on Medicaid managed-care organizations that ended earlier this year loomed large over Mahoning County budget talks.
“No matter what good stewards all the electeds and departments have been ... it never seems to end – the state creates new hole for us to fill,” County Commissioner David Ditz-ler said.
Without further action from the state, counties will be on their own beginning in 2019.
In Mahoning County, the tax brought in about $4.5 million annually, or 10 percent of the county’s total sales-tax revenue.
Audrey Tillis, the county commissioners’ executive director, discussed at Wednesday’s budget hearings the formation of a budget and expenditure committee with various department representatives. The committee would make recommendations to the commissioners.
“We need a contingency plan to see what we’re going to do and how we’re going to move forward,” Tillis said.
The commissioners met Wednesday with representatives from the common pleas court, the clerk of courts, the juvenile court and the coroner’s office.
The court officials said their 2018 budget is the 2017 budget with minor increases to accommodate changes in things including juror fees and postage. The court requested $3,112,328 for 2018, up from $3,072,673 appropriated in 2017.
Judge Theresa Dellick of juvenile court said her department requested less than usual because it’s been successful in obtaining funding from other sources.
The court requested $6,843,475 for 2018, up from $6,647,023 appropriated in 2017.
The clerk of courts also requested a slight increase from $3,843,609 in appropriations in 2017 to $4,087,086 for 2018.
The coroner’s office requested the highest percentage increase year-over-year moving from $860,212 in appropriations in 2017 to $1,004,824 requested for 2018, a 16.8 percent jump.
Overall, the year’s budget requests represent a 2.17 percent increase in spending from the general fund and a 1.71 percent increase in spending from the criminal and administrative justice fund, resulting in a $67 million budget.
The commissioners will have hearings today with the board of elections, the sheriff, veterans’ services and domestic relations court.