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Local News

Saturday, September 05, 2009

County preparing for big budget cut
By LOU WILIN

STAFF WRITER

Hancock County government will have to operate with between 10 and 17 percent less money in 2010, department leaders were told Friday by the county commissioners and Auditor Charity Rauschenberg.

If voters in November decide to continue a one-half percent, 10-year sales tax increase, county government will have to operate with 10 percent less money, Commissioner Ed Ingold said.

If they reject the tax, which already is being collected, departments will have to operate with 17 percent less, he said.

Department heads can decide whether they will lay off workers or have them take time off without pay, Ingold said. To save costs before 2010, many departments will be closed five days this fall and workers will be off without pay.

County government is running out of options to drastic cutbacks. By not replacing employees who left since 2002, it has shrunk those on the general fund payroll by 28, leaving about 200, Ingold said.

"We have been doing more with less. Now we are at a point where it will be less with less," he said.

Even public safety is vulnerable. County Sheriff Mike Heldman said he needs a week to determine whether he will have to lay off staff in 2010.

"Could there be layoffs? Yes," he said. "Are there ways to avoid it? Possibly."

It could take maneuvering by Heldman and cooperation from his employees. Seventy of the sheriff's 83 employees are represented by unions which have labor contracts with the county.

It will not be pleasant for anybody because the financial realities are non-negotiable: Sales tax collections are down, and are not expected to improve "until well into 2010," Ingold said.

State funding to the county is expected to continue to dwindle because state revenues are down. Investment interest for the county also is down since the Federal Reserve cut interest rates to stimulate the economy, Ingold said.

County leaders know they cannot afford to wait until 2010 to act.

They plan to save $65,000 to $70,000 in wages by having workers in many departments off without pay on Sept. 25, Oct. 9 and 23, Nov. 27 and Dec. 24.

By closing the courthouse and some other county offices those days, the county also will achieve energy savings.

Some county government offices may not be closed on the five dates this fall, Ingold said. The sheriff's office will have officers on duty.

Whether the engineer's office will be closed on the five dates has not yet been determined. It has unionized employees with a labor contract.

Departments financed outside the general fund also may not close on the five dates this fall. They include the landfill, Litter Landing, Blanchard Valley Center and others. Hancock County Job & Family Services will set its own schedule regarding employees taking unpaid time off.

Wilin: 419-427-8413,

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4 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
JP wrote:
Driving issues
“ I could not agree more with Kay concerning Garage sale signs. I do know of another way police could increase revenue. Sit on main street at any given time...using a set of binoculars...watch down the street and you will see MANY people running the stop signs. The just roll on through the sign onto Main Street. You could write tickets all day! Still one more way is get those people speeding on south main just before you get out of town. 35 does not mean 55! There you go...quick money for Findlay and Hancock County! ”
Tuesday, September 08, 2009 5:12:08 AM
kay miller wrote:
budget cuts can be prevented if
“ One great way to generate revenue for the city is to fine people that have garage sale signs posted on the corners and don't take them down. This is real annoying especially when your out garage sale hunting and its closed because it was last weeks event.
I thought that a couple of years ago there was an ordianance to that nature.
Another law which should be inforced is these drivers that change lanes when turning instead of staying in their lanes, that also is annoying. ”
Saturday, September 05, 2009 9:20:39 AM
Frightened wrote:
This is not a police and fire levy!!
“ I was wondering when the county was going to jump on the city bandwagon and threaten public safety by laying off employees because of the tax, and here it is. They say vote for this tax or you will lose police and fire. None of these taxes are guaranteed to go to public safety forces. Technically, the voters could pass all of the taxes, and city council and the commissioners are not required to spend one dime on public safety. The police and fire unions are spending thousands of dollars campaigning for the city income tax increase while the city does nothing. It seems to me the unions are working for Senhert, Barker and Sprague. Wake up people. The city wants you to believe the tax is for police and fire, but the real story is the tax money goes to the general fund and flood issues. Public safety forces could still be laid off which Barker has been wanting to do for a long time. ”
Saturday, September 05, 2009 8:20:51 AM
JAMES wrote:
game
“ We understand that cut must come but with all the cuts planed I dont see any.. and or hear of any cuts coming from the.3. commissioners them selfs; .. How can they lead and not take cuts them selfs, To all of you that will have cuts. and to all of that the cuts will disrupt confront them on this issue
 ”
Saturday, September 05, 2009 7:37:42 AM
   NEWS VIDEO

Benton Ridge Shooting

This video, released by the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office, shows the shooting of a Lima man who led authorities on a three-county chase ending Aug.24 in Benton Ridge. Be cautioned, the video contains graphic content.
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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.