Commissioners consider pending cuts of almost $1 million; Greenfield annexation on hold
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Highland County Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeff Duncan, along with Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley, continued discussions regarding the pending loss of approximately $807,000 a year in tax revenues at the Wednesday, Sept. 21 commissioners' meeting.
Wilkin said in meeting recently with the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, there’s been talk of some “temporary help, but no long-term fix at this point.”
“Is this just for next year?” Fawley asked.
“Maybe for the last half of 2017 through 2018,” Wilkin replied.
Fawley then asked if the temporary fix would go through June of 2019 when the state budget ends.
“I would not count on that,” Wilkin replied.
According to Wilkin, the loss in Medicaid-related tax revenues is approximately $800,000 out of the annual budget. Wilkin added that should the additional Children’s Services levy fail, the county could be looking at a projected $2.3 million shortfall in revenues by 2018.
“It’s an issue raised at CCAO,” Wilkin said. “The word we’re getting is that maybe there’ll be a brief weaning-off period, but there’s no dramatic change in funding formula at this time.”
Fawley said the county department heads have been asked to submit revised budgets for next year by Oct. 7. “We have to base next year’s budget on the anticipated loss of revenue at this time,” Fawley said.
Ohio is the last state to lose this tax revenue, following changes from the federal government.
Ohio Senate President Keith Faber informed commissioners of the pending sales tax changes in an Aug. 8 letter to the board.
In his letter, Faber wrote: "Specifically, the feds have indicated that the application of Ohio's state and county level sales tax on MCOs (Managed Care Organizations) can no longer continue. Ohio has applied these taxes since 2009. For the state, the issue won't be upon us until July 1, 2017, when Ohio adopts a new two-year state budget and begins our new fiscal year. But for our 88 counties and local transit authorities, that will come right in the middle of your 2017 calendar year budget which I know you have already started preparing."
"We would lose 12.4 percent of our tax revenues if the Legislature doesn't act," Fawley said on Aug. 17. "It affects all counties differently. In Adams County, it's 16.9 percent, and in Vinton County, it's 22 percent."
The projected loss of $807,000 annually in sales tax revenues plus a failure of the Children Services levy could see the county facing a $2.3 million revenue shortage.
For a statewide breakdown by county, the County Commissioners Association of Ohio has provided this link on its website: http://www.ccao.org/userfiles/Fed%20Regulations%20may%20impact%20OH%20sales%20tax.pdf.
• • •
Commissioner Horst reported that Dance Construction is meeting this week with DS2 Architects on the construction of the handicapped-accessible ramp.
“They are going over plans today and could start next week,” Horst said.
Horst also reminded citizens that the front door of the Highland County Administration Building will be unaccessible during the first phase of the project. People will have to use the back door in the alley on the west side of the building.
• • •
After a brief recess, commissioners met with Greenfield City Manager Ron Coffey and former Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop regarding a proposed annexation on behalf of Charles and Sheila Beechler in Greenfield.
Bishop explained to commissioners that previously, they had completed an annexation at Carford Pike and state Route 753. A second proposed annexation had a typographical error on an address of property, Bishop said.
“I thought we should go through the process again and do it correctly,” she said.
Bishop has presented the proposed annexation to Greenfield village council, Madison Township trustees and seven adjoining property owners.
“The Beechlers have gone overboard to notify everyone in the area that this is happening,” Bishop said.
“We tried to get this done a year or so ago,” Coffey said. “The Village is still supportive of it.”
Wilkin advised that on Sept. 20, the county commissioners had received word from the Madison Township trustees that they are objecting to the annexation.
“What was the deadline for objecting?” Bishop asked.
“We didn’t get a notice of objection until yesterday,” Horst said.
Wilkin said he did not know the deadline for filing an objection to the annexation.
“If the deadline to object is missed, it’s missed,” Wilkin said.
The commissioners are asking Highland County Prosector Anneka Collins to do additional research on the annexation process.
“It seems logical to get both sides’ opinions,” Coffey said.
The issue has been tabled until the Sept. 28 commissioners' meeting.
The property in question is at state Routes 138 and 753.
• • •
Permissive sales tax
Auditor Fawley reported that the September 2016 permissive sales tax revenues (for July sales) were $616,779.32, up from $590,743.17 one year ago.
Resolution
Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve a request from the County Engineer for a modification within the Engineer's Budget from Contracts, Projects to Materials in the amount of $50,000.
Related story
http://www.highlandcountypress.com/Content/Mobile-Application/Mobile-Application/Article/Commissioners-plan-for-potential-budget-cuts/-10/-10/34509
Wilkin said in meeting recently with the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, there’s been talk of some “temporary help, but no long-term fix at this point.”
“Is this just for next year?” Fawley asked.
“Maybe for the last half of 2017 through 2018,” Wilkin replied.
Fawley then asked if the temporary fix would go through June of 2019 when the state budget ends.
“I would not count on that,” Wilkin replied.
According to Wilkin, the loss in Medicaid-related tax revenues is approximately $800,000 out of the annual budget. Wilkin added that should the additional Children’s Services levy fail, the county could be looking at a projected $2.3 million shortfall in revenues by 2018.
“It’s an issue raised at CCAO,” Wilkin said. “The word we’re getting is that maybe there’ll be a brief weaning-off period, but there’s no dramatic change in funding formula at this time.”
Fawley said the county department heads have been asked to submit revised budgets for next year by Oct. 7. “We have to base next year’s budget on the anticipated loss of revenue at this time,” Fawley said.
Ohio is the last state to lose this tax revenue, following changes from the federal government.
Ohio Senate President Keith Faber informed commissioners of the pending sales tax changes in an Aug. 8 letter to the board.
In his letter, Faber wrote: "Specifically, the feds have indicated that the application of Ohio's state and county level sales tax on MCOs (Managed Care Organizations) can no longer continue. Ohio has applied these taxes since 2009. For the state, the issue won't be upon us until July 1, 2017, when Ohio adopts a new two-year state budget and begins our new fiscal year. But for our 88 counties and local transit authorities, that will come right in the middle of your 2017 calendar year budget which I know you have already started preparing."
"We would lose 12.4 percent of our tax revenues if the Legislature doesn't act," Fawley said on Aug. 17. "It affects all counties differently. In Adams County, it's 16.9 percent, and in Vinton County, it's 22 percent."
The projected loss of $807,000 annually in sales tax revenues plus a failure of the Children Services levy could see the county facing a $2.3 million revenue shortage.
For a statewide breakdown by county, the County Commissioners Association of Ohio has provided this link on its website: http://www.ccao.org/userfiles/Fed%20Regulations%20may%20impact%20OH%20sales%20tax.pdf.
• • •
Commissioner Horst reported that Dance Construction is meeting this week with DS2 Architects on the construction of the handicapped-accessible ramp.
“They are going over plans today and could start next week,” Horst said.
Horst also reminded citizens that the front door of the Highland County Administration Building will be unaccessible during the first phase of the project. People will have to use the back door in the alley on the west side of the building.
• • •
After a brief recess, commissioners met with Greenfield City Manager Ron Coffey and former Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop regarding a proposed annexation on behalf of Charles and Sheila Beechler in Greenfield.
Bishop explained to commissioners that previously, they had completed an annexation at Carford Pike and state Route 753. A second proposed annexation had a typographical error on an address of property, Bishop said.
“I thought we should go through the process again and do it correctly,” she said.
Bishop has presented the proposed annexation to Greenfield village council, Madison Township trustees and seven adjoining property owners.
“The Beechlers have gone overboard to notify everyone in the area that this is happening,” Bishop said.
“We tried to get this done a year or so ago,” Coffey said. “The Village is still supportive of it.”
Wilkin advised that on Sept. 20, the county commissioners had received word from the Madison Township trustees that they are objecting to the annexation.
“What was the deadline for objecting?” Bishop asked.
“We didn’t get a notice of objection until yesterday,” Horst said.
Wilkin said he did not know the deadline for filing an objection to the annexation.
“If the deadline to object is missed, it’s missed,” Wilkin said.
The commissioners are asking Highland County Prosector Anneka Collins to do additional research on the annexation process.
“It seems logical to get both sides’ opinions,” Coffey said.
The issue has been tabled until the Sept. 28 commissioners' meeting.
The property in question is at state Routes 138 and 753.
• • •
Permissive sales tax
Auditor Fawley reported that the September 2016 permissive sales tax revenues (for July sales) were $616,779.32, up from $590,743.17 one year ago.
Resolution
Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve a request from the County Engineer for a modification within the Engineer's Budget from Contracts, Projects to Materials in the amount of $50,000.
Related story
http://www.highlandcountypress.com/Content/Mobile-Application/Mobile-Application/Article/Commissioners-plan-for-potential-budget-cuts/-10/-10/34509