Highland County's 2017 projected revenues dip below $10 million
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
One year ago, Highland County Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeff Duncan approved the 2016 General Fund Budget appropriations at a lean $10 million during their Dec. 16 board meeting. Today, the commissioners announced tentative estimated resources at $190,000 less than last year.
Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley submitted the 2017 estimated revenues to be $9,810,000, with $5,750,000 of that coming through permissive sales taxes and $1,800,000 from property taxes.
"With the loss of anticipated revenue next year, we're going back $190,000," Wilkin said at the Wednesday, Nov. 30 board meeting.
"Unless the state does something about the sales tax, 2018 will take a major hit," Fawley said.
As reported in September, the county's loss in Medicaid-related tax revenues is approximately $800,000 out of the annual budget. These dollars end June 30, 2017.
With the failure of the additional Children’s Services levy, the county is looking at a projected $2.3 million shortfall in revenues by late 2017 and into 2018.
Wilkin said he will have his preliminary budget prepared by the end of the day Nov. 30.
"I'll have my version of the budget later today and you can look at it and tell me what you think," Wilkin told Duncan and Horst.
The initial draft is expected to be presented at the Dec. 7 board meeting and finalized by Dec. 14.
"Hopefully, next week we'll be able to move it over to Bill (Fawley)," Wilkin said.
* * *
• Commissioners received three bids on a lighting project at the Hi-TEC Center and its parking area.
Duncan made a motion that was seconded by Horst to accept the low bid from S&S Contractors of $15,000. The motion passed, 3-0. The project is funded from capital improvement dollars.
* * *
• Commissioners received a notice from First Energy that it would not be renewing its contract as an energy provider. Wilkin said he would contact John Zaegle of Muirfield Energy to discuss the situation.
* * *
• Auditor Fawley, commissioners and commissioner-elect Terry Britton entered into an executive session for personnel at 8:55 a.m. Wilkin said no action would be taken, and the board would adjourn following the session. Commissioners would then travel to Georgetown for a tri-county meeting with commissioners from Adams and Brown counties to discuss shared services.
Resolutions
Commissioners approved the following resolutions on Nov. 30, each by a 3-0 vote.
• A request from Probation for an additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Probation, Advances Out in the amount of $5,000, and a request in an advance Probation Budget, Advances Out to Prosecutorial Diversion in the amount of $5,000.
• A request from Probation for an additional appropriation from unappropriated funds within the Prosecutorial Diversion Fund.
• A request from Probation for an additional appropriation within the Pre-Trial Supervision Fund.
• A request from Recycling for a budget modification within the Recycling Grant.
• A request from Recycling for a budget modification within the Recycling Grant.
• A request for an additional appropriation to Unclaimed Money, Expenses in the amount of $20,322.50.
• A request for an additional appropriation to Hotel Lodging, Expenses in the amount of $2,043.01.
• A request for an additional appropriation to Mowrystown Sewer, Contracts-Services in the amount of $1,200.
• A request for an additional appropriation to Sewage Rolling Acres, Contracts-Services in the amount of $1,000.
• A resolution to authorize Highland County Land re-utilization corporation as the agency for the land bank.
• A request for an additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Capital Improvements, General in the amount of $188,796.26.
• A request from the Prosecutor for a budget modification within the DETAC fund in the amount of $850.
• A request for a budget modification within Maintenance & Operations in the amount of $3,000.
Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley submitted the 2017 estimated revenues to be $9,810,000, with $5,750,000 of that coming through permissive sales taxes and $1,800,000 from property taxes.
"With the loss of anticipated revenue next year, we're going back $190,000," Wilkin said at the Wednesday, Nov. 30 board meeting.
"Unless the state does something about the sales tax, 2018 will take a major hit," Fawley said.
As reported in September, the county's loss in Medicaid-related tax revenues is approximately $800,000 out of the annual budget. These dollars end June 30, 2017.
With the failure of the additional Children’s Services levy, the county is looking at a projected $2.3 million shortfall in revenues by late 2017 and into 2018.
Wilkin said he will have his preliminary budget prepared by the end of the day Nov. 30.
"I'll have my version of the budget later today and you can look at it and tell me what you think," Wilkin told Duncan and Horst.
The initial draft is expected to be presented at the Dec. 7 board meeting and finalized by Dec. 14.
"Hopefully, next week we'll be able to move it over to Bill (Fawley)," Wilkin said.
* * *
• Commissioners received three bids on a lighting project at the Hi-TEC Center and its parking area.
Duncan made a motion that was seconded by Horst to accept the low bid from S&S Contractors of $15,000. The motion passed, 3-0. The project is funded from capital improvement dollars.
* * *
• Commissioners received a notice from First Energy that it would not be renewing its contract as an energy provider. Wilkin said he would contact John Zaegle of Muirfield Energy to discuss the situation.
* * *
• Auditor Fawley, commissioners and commissioner-elect Terry Britton entered into an executive session for personnel at 8:55 a.m. Wilkin said no action would be taken, and the board would adjourn following the session. Commissioners would then travel to Georgetown for a tri-county meeting with commissioners from Adams and Brown counties to discuss shared services.
Resolutions
Commissioners approved the following resolutions on Nov. 30, each by a 3-0 vote.
• A request from Probation for an additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Probation, Advances Out in the amount of $5,000, and a request in an advance Probation Budget, Advances Out to Prosecutorial Diversion in the amount of $5,000.
• A request from Probation for an additional appropriation from unappropriated funds within the Prosecutorial Diversion Fund.
• A request from Probation for an additional appropriation within the Pre-Trial Supervision Fund.
• A request from Recycling for a budget modification within the Recycling Grant.
• A request from Recycling for a budget modification within the Recycling Grant.
• A request for an additional appropriation to Unclaimed Money, Expenses in the amount of $20,322.50.
• A request for an additional appropriation to Hotel Lodging, Expenses in the amount of $2,043.01.
• A request for an additional appropriation to Mowrystown Sewer, Contracts-Services in the amount of $1,200.
• A request for an additional appropriation to Sewage Rolling Acres, Contracts-Services in the amount of $1,000.
• A resolution to authorize Highland County Land re-utilization corporation as the agency for the land bank.
• A request for an additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Capital Improvements, General in the amount of $188,796.26.
• A request from the Prosecutor for a budget modification within the DETAC fund in the amount of $850.
• A request for a budget modification within Maintenance & Operations in the amount of $3,000.