Commissioner says steady sales tax is keeping county afloat

While the Highland County Board of Commissioners has worked over the past two years to cut millions from the county budget, keeping it balanced remains difficult.

Board president Shane Wilkin told The Highland County Press that when the county has reduced the budget to the point the commissioners have, unexpected expenses can be difficult to factor in. 

Among such unexpected costs is the capital murder trial of Wesley Coonrod, which was held in October, with a second trial scheduled to begin Jan. 3. 

Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss told The Highland County Press last week that so far the official costs for the first Coonrod trial are at $55,122.17. That, however, does not include attorney fees, which could be in excess of $50,000 according to estimates, or costs for mitigation specialists and additional defense investigative costs. 

Funding court proceedings is not something that can be cut from the county budget.

"The only thing that has kept us afloat as of right now is our sales tax," Wilkin said. "Our sales tax has managed to keep us even or just up from last year. All of our other income streams are down. Real estate tax delinquencies are higher than they have been in the past, for obvious reasons. But pretty much, it boils down to the sales tax keeping us alive."

Wilkin said that with the state of Ohio facing its own budget issues, it most likely will have an impact on Highland County.

"Keeping that in mind, with the pending reductions the state is going to have to make in the budget next year, there is a real possibility some of that is going to have to come through local funds," Wilkin said. "They've got $8 billion to fill (in order to balance the state budget) and it is very possible some of that is going to make its way to us. That puts us in a position where our budget, at best, will probably be even. The unexpected expenses are not going to be helpful, no matter what year it's in. Our income is expended."

Wilkin said that the carryover funds are essential to the county in order to make it through the first few months of they year when there is no income until the first round of taxes are assessed. 

"We need to carry over into (2011) probably at least $400,000 or we won't be able to make payroll," Wilkin said. "We've still got a couple more months, so we'll see where we're at. But honestly, one bad month of sales taxes, or if it just drops off, we'd be right back in deep trouble."