Clinton County government departments asked to make 10 percent cut in non-personnel spending

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WILMINGTON — County government offices are being asked to cut non-personnel spending by 10 percent for their next budgets, and to keep the expense of wages the same as this year.

On Wednesday, countywide elected officials, department heads, supervisors and fiscal managers filled the commissioners office at the courthouse where they heard the budget-cutting instruction.

Clinton County Commissioners President Kerry R. Steed facilitated the meeting, and said the budget cut is needed because of a big increase in health insurance and a $1 million request to deal with a local jump in foster care placements due to the opioid crisis. As reported previously, the Child Protection Unit of Clinton County Job and Family Services needs additional funds to provide children — whose parents can’t care for them — a foster home or specialized residential treatment that are mandated by law.

Another factor coming into play for budgeting, according to Steed, is last year’s removal of a 0.5 percent county sales tax. Utilizing some of the county’s carryover funds can help out for a while, said Steed. He said drawing money from the carryover might buy some time — he said possibly 18 months — before commissioners would have to look elsewhere to balance the budget.

After utilizing a portion of the carryover, the county’s three options would be replacing the sales tax, using funds from the county’s sale of the hospital, or making “drastic cuts,” said Steed.

Clinton County Engineer Jeff Linkous asked whether there’s a willingness to pursue any of those three options now to address the possible shortfall in the future.

Steed answered when it comes to budgeting, he tries to look at least a couple years ahead.

“I don’t think it does us any good to either bury our heads in the sand or wait until we have a crisis to make a decision. So in my mind those three options are on the table as of right now,” stated Steed.

After the meeting, Clinton County Commissioner Patrick Haley said he wished to shed light on his position.

“I want to monitor the ebb and flow of the budget before I would talk about any type of taxes — which I am against — I would let the budget process play out. So my position is I just want to constantly look at the flow of finances in the county and then make a decision when that time comes,” Haley said.

Haley also said the county is in a sound financial condition, but there were some unanticipated things that happened this year, one of those being a “drastic increase” in the cost of health insurance for employees of the county.

Clinton County Sheriff Ralph D. Fizer Jr. said his non-personnel, operating expenses have not gone up a penny the past five years.

“We try to be conservative. It’s going to be tough to come up with 10 percent. Matter of fact, I can say that it’s probably almost impossible to cut 10 percent of operating costs, because we operate 24/7,” said Fizer.

The sheriff said the non-personnel expenses of his department — both the sheriff’s office and the county jail — are roughly $1 million, making the commissioners’ request to cut 10 percent come to a figure of roughly $100,000.

Fizer said Wednesday he thinks $30,000 or $40,000 could probably be cut from his non-personnel expenditures.

“We’ll do everything we can to work within the guidelines the commissioners ask. We have a good working relationship and we want to keep that,” said the sheriff.

Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.

These are among the county officials who filled the commissioners office Wednesday prior to the start of the meeting where they heard the budget-cutting instruction.
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/09/web1_group_p_f.jpgThese are among the county officials who filled the commissioners office Wednesday prior to the start of the meeting where they heard the budget-cutting instruction.

Clinton County Commissioners President Kerry R. Steed facilitates a 2018 budget meeting Wednesday.
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/09/web1_steed_p_f.jpgClinton County Commissioners President Kerry R. Steed facilitates a 2018 budget meeting Wednesday.

By Gary Huffenberger

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