WHEELING - Ohio County's commissioners plan to spend $11,901,172 during fiscal 2010-11 after approving a budget for that amount Monday.
The 2011 budget is $224,655 less than the current fiscal 2009-10 budget of $12,125,827. Administrator Greg Stewart noted while revenues and expenditures are balanced, video lottery and table gambling revenue projections for the fiscal year that begins July 1 are down by $129,500 compared to the current fiscal year.
The county's largest source of revenue continues to be personal property and real estate taxes, accounting for $5,496,866, or 46.19 percent, of the budget.
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Photo by Shelley Hanson
Ohio County commissioners, from left, Tim McCormick, Randy Wharton and David Sims on Monday approve the county’s $11,901,172 budget for Fiscal 2011.
The county's largest expense continues to be public safety, accounting for $6,648,074, or 55.92 percent, of the budget. Public safety includes law enforcement, the Prosecutor's office and the Northern Regional Jail bill.
Stewart noted there are no pay raises in the budget. Department head salaries include: $150,000 for Stewart; $59,880 for Sheriff Pat Butler; $96,600 for Prosecutor Scott Smith; $55,440 for County Clerk Patricia Fahey; $55,440 for Circuit Clerk Brenda Miller; $64,368 for Assessor Kathie Hoffman; $53,000 for Airport Manager Tom Tominack; and $36,960 each for Commissioners Randy Wharton, David Sims and Tim McCormick.
A state-mandated increase to the Public Employees Retirement System, estimated to cost Ohio County about $200,000, now will be spread out over a five-year period, adding about 2 percent to the budget.
During meetings about their respective budgets, Stewart said county department heads were cooperative in understanding money was going to be tight this coming fiscal year.
"I thought everyone came into it with an understanding of where we are and where we're headed," Stewart said.
He noted if the county had funded all requests made by department heads, an additional $248,409 would have been necessary.
"Our hospitalization, we are going to see an increase there. Our premium looks like it's going to go up 22 percent, but we are working on some alternative plans and hope to cut that number in half before the start of the fiscal year," Stewart said.