Even with levy, HCCS facing deficit
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
In spite of its recent levy passage, Highland County Children Services expects to see significant financial problems for at least another year, HCCS director Wendy Jacobs said this week.
Jacobs, along with HCCS board members Arlene Cole and Christopher Lewis, met with the Highland County commissioners Wednesday morning to inform them of ongoing budget issues.
“Even with the levy, we’re still going to be in pretty bad shape, financially, next year,” Jacobs said. “We are anticipating a pretty big deficit. We’ve cut a lot. Salaries are way down. We have a skeleton crew. I have one investigator for a county of 42,000. That is unacceptable to the state. Having only one investigator is a real concern.”
Jacobs told commissioners her department has made cuts in staffing, travel, mileage reimbursements and other expenses. The expenses for the care of children in foster homes is difficult to accurately forecast, she said, as the exact number of children in need of foster care can change. In addition, the agency continues to have unemployment expenses related to former HCCS director Tim Stolitca, Jacobs told commissioners. “We’re still paying {unemployment} on Tim and his unemployment is huge.”
Commissioner Gary Heaton said the system “isn’t fair. It doesn’t seem right to keep going back to a former employer, especially when you voluntarily move on.”
To compound the department’s plight, it has already borrowed against the levy funds from 2010 in order to pay foster families for their expenses in 2009.
“There’s nowhere else to go for additional money,” Cole said.
“I’ll never send a child home if I don’t think it’s safe,” Jacobs said, adding, “I think it will take about two years for us to get out of this.”
“That’s probably about the same for all of Highland County,” Heaton responded.
“We can’t expect any forthcoming funds. The money’s just not there for anybody. And we still may have to cut some more.”
Cole then said, “Our children are very important and they are a high priority.”
“Obviously, we would like to do more,” Heaton answered.
“There’s just nothing left for Children Services to cut,” Cole replied.
“The levy money’s already been spent.”
Jacobs then asked commissioners if Children Services were the only agency that wasn’t receiving any general fund money in 2010.
Commissioner President Shane Wilkin said, “There will likely be others.”[[In-content Ad]]
Jacobs, along with HCCS board members Arlene Cole and Christopher Lewis, met with the Highland County commissioners Wednesday morning to inform them of ongoing budget issues.
“Even with the levy, we’re still going to be in pretty bad shape, financially, next year,” Jacobs said. “We are anticipating a pretty big deficit. We’ve cut a lot. Salaries are way down. We have a skeleton crew. I have one investigator for a county of 42,000. That is unacceptable to the state. Having only one investigator is a real concern.”
Jacobs told commissioners her department has made cuts in staffing, travel, mileage reimbursements and other expenses. The expenses for the care of children in foster homes is difficult to accurately forecast, she said, as the exact number of children in need of foster care can change. In addition, the agency continues to have unemployment expenses related to former HCCS director Tim Stolitca, Jacobs told commissioners. “We’re still paying {unemployment} on Tim and his unemployment is huge.”
Commissioner Gary Heaton said the system “isn’t fair. It doesn’t seem right to keep going back to a former employer, especially when you voluntarily move on.”
To compound the department’s plight, it has already borrowed against the levy funds from 2010 in order to pay foster families for their expenses in 2009.
“There’s nowhere else to go for additional money,” Cole said.
“I’ll never send a child home if I don’t think it’s safe,” Jacobs said, adding, “I think it will take about two years for us to get out of this.”
“That’s probably about the same for all of Highland County,” Heaton responded.
“We can’t expect any forthcoming funds. The money’s just not there for anybody. And we still may have to cut some more.”
Cole then said, “Our children are very important and they are a high priority.”
“Obviously, we would like to do more,” Heaton answered.
“There’s just nothing left for Children Services to cut,” Cole replied.
“The levy money’s already been spent.”
Jacobs then asked commissioners if Children Services were the only agency that wasn’t receiving any general fund money in 2010.
Commissioner President Shane Wilkin said, “There will likely be others.”[[In-content Ad]]