County denies funding request from Children Services

   Children Services Executive Director Wendy Jacobs, along with an HCCS committee that included Arlene Cole, Chris Lewis and Darrell Tissot, told the county commissioners the agency is anticipating more than a $100,000 deficit through the end of 2009.

   Jacobs said Children Services has projected expenses of $419,510.02 and projected income of $231,191 and, even with new budget cuts, cannot make ends meet through the end of the year.

   Jacobs presented budget reductions that included:

   * Pay cuts for salaried staff;

   * Unpaid furloughs for caseworkers;

   * Two clerical positions reduced to 30 hours per week; and,

   * The layoff of one manager and one caseworker.

  "This will be $47,151.24 in savings through the end of the year," Jacobs said. "But it still leaves us a $103,591.65 deficit through the end of the year."

   Jacobs also outlined reductions in the per diem for children placed in foster homes.

   What had been a $30 per day across-the-board reimbursement to foster families has been reduced to a maximum of $20 per day, with a sliding scale based on the child's age.

   "We also help the older children with proms, school photos and other

things. We try to provide for our kids. We want them to have what other kids

have," Jacobs said.

   Jacobs said new contracts were due Sept. 30 from current foster

families. At least one foster family, with two children in their care, had

not signed their contract as of the commissioners' meeting that morning.

   "We owe the foster parents," Children Services board member Darrell

Tissot said. "That is a debt, is it not? Whose debt is it?"

   Commissioner Gary Heaton responded, "We're trying to find out."

   "Are these foster parents going to get stiffed?" Tissot asked.

   "I hope not," Heaton replied.

   "I don't like the sound of that," Tissot said.

   "That is not our intent, no," commissioner Shane Wilkin said. Both Heaton and Wilkin expressed that the welfare of the foster children is the top priority, but the county itself has projected a deficit of almost $600,000, Wilkin said. "You're looking at a $100,000 deficit. We're looking at a $600,000 deficit, or close to it."

   Children Services board member Arlene Cole said the county is supposed to fund 70 percent of the expense for foster children. However, Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey said, "I'd like to see that authority. ... There's a specific funding formula for Job and Family Services, but I can find nothing for Children Services. One school of thought is that the levy you just passed meets the obligation."

   Taxpayers approved a $550,000 levy for Highland County Children Services, but the money is not realized until next year.

   In the past, Heaton said, Children Services would request additional appropriations from the commissioners and the request was often approved. "The difference between now and then," Heaton said, "was that then they had the extra money. Now, we're in a position where we don't have a rainy day fund. I know foster parents have been very understanding so far. Right now, financially, we can't commit any more dollars."

   "We need the money for the foster parents," Cole said.

   Jacobs then questioned the reductions in other county offices. "Has any other department taken an 86-percent cut?" she asked. Jacobs presented a spreadsheet that showed HCCS has received $21,000 from a budget allocation of $150,000 for 2009. The agency"s original request for 2009 was $609,941.76.

   Heaton objected to the question. "I hate for you to put it like that. We did tell you not to come to us any sooner than you absolutely had to."

   Heaton noted that "It is true we've only given you 14 percent of the funds we appropriated for Children Services."

   The commissioner added that all county departments have had to make cuts, including a number of new reductions approved earlier in Wednesday's meeting.

   "If foster parents do not renew contracts, what is your plan for the children?" Cole asked.

   Jacobs then informed the commissioners that she "has no place to put two foster children, who cannot be returned to their home." Grandey agreed that those children must not be returned to their former environment.

   Jacobs said Thursday the foster family renewed their contract. But others who signed may not continue without payment.

   Tissot expressed hope for the agency once the levy money is realized. "We should make it work next year," he said. "But until the levy money comes in, we've got problems."

   The commissioners took no action on the Children Services request.

   In other county business:

   * Prior to meeting with Children Services, the commissioners signed a proclamation designating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Diana Haines, Peggy Lang, Denise Turner and Julie Brassel accepted the proclamation.

   * The commission considered a request from Pat Hays of WVNU Radio to place an antenna atop the county annex building on High Street. Commissioners said they had no issues with the request, but would refer it to Grandey for a written recommendation and liability waiver.

   * Commissioners approved, by 2-0 votes (Commissioner Tom Horst was absent) resolutions to: authorize an additional appropriation for the sheriff's methamphetamine initiative budget; accept Dan Music's resignation and John Garrison's appointment to the Airport Authority Board; reduce the County Court (Madison Township) budget by $2,650.70;  accept a budget reduction in Judge Kevin Greer's Probate and Juvenile Court of 20 percent ($12,714.85) through the end of the year; and a reduction in Highland County Engineer Dean Otworth's budget of 39 percent ($13,468.73) through the end of the year. Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey also submitted a reduction in his office's expenses, including a personal pay cut.

   In addition to discussing budget reductions in his office, Otworth also updated the commissioners on scheduled projects for widening and paving. These projects include Concord Road, Selph Road and old U.S. Route 62. These projects are funded through the engineer's office, not the county's general fund.

   * The commissioners also received a letter from Ohio Department of Natural Resources Deputy Director Anthony Celebrezze III denying a request for a private marina on Rocky Fork Lake, adjacent to the Rocky Fork Golf Course. "The park has more than enough existing dock space at the nearby marina," Celebrezze said.

   The commissioners had supported the request ­ from Jamie Brandenburg - based on the potential for greater economic development for the lake area.