County administrator outlines worrisome budget gaps
Sales tax hike proposed to meet county’s current, future financial objections
Scott Miller
MEDINA – County officials won’t have much problem finding ways to spend another $6.5 million in revenue if the county sales tax is raised from 6.75 to 7 percent as some propose.
County Administrator Scott Miller outlined a long list of funding needs during a public hearing on a proposal that would raise the county sales tax. County commissioners are considering placing an issue on the ballot in November that would increase the sales tax here by 0.25 percent and generate an estimated $6.5 million a year.
Miller said the financial status of county government is the result of lower revenue over the past decade that has led to some festering issues.
“We have been making due with available funding resulting in negative fund balances being carried forward from year to year,” he said. “That has led to the deterioration of the buildings we maintain, a shortage of space in some departments and cuts in services like transit.”
The county’s budget problems are partly the result of a loss of funds created by the recession during which general fund revenue declined from $38 million in 2007 to $34 million in 2011. According to Miller, the county lost $4 million in investment income, $1 million in local government funding from the state and $1.5 million in property tax revenue since 2007.
Increased revenue from a higher sales tax could resolve many of the budget problems facing the county.
The county first instituted a sales tax in 1971 when the population of the county was about 83,000 and the county employed 381 people and operated on a general fund budget of about $1.9 million. Now the population is 177,000 and the cost of providing services to the people of Medina County has increased dramatically, especially in the areas of the courts and sheriff’s department.
Miller said the county can no longer cover all its expenses with existing revenue. Of particular concern are funds with negative cash balances such as the sheriff’s dispatch fund, wireless 911 fund, dispute resolution fund, and common pleas special projects fund.
Miller also cited a list of numerous projects the county wants to address but lacks adequate funding for. Those include:
• About $23 million to expand the courthouse and Adult Probation Department which was planned 10 years ago but postponed due to revenue losses
• Proper maintenance of deteriorating buildings at a cost of millions of dollars
• Purchasing new voting equipment by an expected order from the state at a cost of $1.7 million or more
• Keeping opening a pod at the jail at a cost of $500,000 per year
• About $380,000 to help fund Job and Family Services, which has seen a 91 percent increase in the number of intakes performed in the Children’s Services department alone;
• Purchasing a Child Advocacy Center at a cost of $150,000-$200,000
• Replacing maintenance department vehicles
• Replacing outdated accounting software at a cost of $850,000
• Additional operating funds for Medina County Public Transit, which is facing a budget deficit despite cuts in service
• Additional funding for the Office for Older Adults, which is serving a rapidly growing elderly population
• More than $1 million requested by the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Board
“My intent is not to be a doomsayer, but I feel it is important that people have a clear picture of what is at stake,” Miller said. “Many of the increasing expenses we’ve faced are in areas where the county has no control such as insurance, and services required by the state.”
County Administrator Scott Miller outlined a long list of funding needs during a public hearing on a proposal that would raise the county sales tax. County commissioners are considering placing an issue on the ballot in November that would increase the sales tax here by 0.25 percent and generate an estimated $6.5 million a year.
Miller said the financial status of county government is the result of lower revenue over the past decade that has led to some festering issues.
“We have been making due with available funding resulting in negative fund balances being carried forward from year to year,” he said. “That has led to the deterioration of the buildings we maintain, a shortage of space in some departments and cuts in services like transit.”
The county’s budget problems are partly the result of a loss of funds created by the recession during which general fund revenue declined from $38 million in 2007 to $34 million in 2011. According to Miller, the county lost $4 million in investment income, $1 million in local government funding from the state and $1.5 million in property tax revenue since 2007.
Increased revenue from a higher sales tax could resolve many of the budget problems facing the county.
The county first instituted a sales tax in 1971 when the population of the county was about 83,000 and the county employed 381 people and operated on a general fund budget of about $1.9 million. Now the population is 177,000 and the cost of providing services to the people of Medina County has increased dramatically, especially in the areas of the courts and sheriff’s department.
Miller said the county can no longer cover all its expenses with existing revenue. Of particular concern are funds with negative cash balances such as the sheriff’s dispatch fund, wireless 911 fund, dispute resolution fund, and common pleas special projects fund.
Miller also cited a list of numerous projects the county wants to address but lacks adequate funding for. Those include:
• About $23 million to expand the courthouse and Adult Probation Department which was planned 10 years ago but postponed due to revenue losses
• Proper maintenance of deteriorating buildings at a cost of millions of dollars
• Purchasing new voting equipment by an expected order from the state at a cost of $1.7 million or more
• Keeping opening a pod at the jail at a cost of $500,000 per year
• About $380,000 to help fund Job and Family Services, which has seen a 91 percent increase in the number of intakes performed in the Children’s Services department alone;
• Purchasing a Child Advocacy Center at a cost of $150,000-$200,000
• Replacing maintenance department vehicles
• Replacing outdated accounting software at a cost of $850,000
• Additional operating funds for Medina County Public Transit, which is facing a budget deficit despite cuts in service
• Additional funding for the Office for Older Adults, which is serving a rapidly growing elderly population
• More than $1 million requested by the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Board
“My intent is not to be a doomsayer, but I feel it is important that people have a clear picture of what is at stake,” Miller said. “Many of the increasing expenses we’ve faced are in areas where the county has no control such as insurance, and services required by the state.”