THE CHALLENGESAll revenue streams to support core government services and public safety have been negatively impacted by the downturn of the economy, which has escalated the rate at which the cash reserves of the county are depleting.
-Sales tax revenue declined by 13% in 2009 – projected to decline an additional 12% in 2010. This 25% decline in sales tax revenue since 2008 affects both the General Operating Fund and the Jail Operating Fund which is supported by sales tax revenue.
-Interest revenue is projected to decline by 65.35% in 2010.
-Other revenue sources have declined by more than 37%.
-Revenue collections have not kept pace with inflation. (1.9% since 2006 as compared to 2.4% inflation)
-Changes in state mandated incarceration requirements have increased local costs.
-Crime rates and drug activities are increasing, putting additional financial pressure on the county’s criminal justice system.
-Since 1994, the inmate population has increased from a daily average rate of 27 to a daily average rate of 115 in 2009.
-Since voters approved a jail levy in 1994, all cities have closed their jail facilities, thus obligating the county to house municipal prisoners and assume all financial responsibilities for incarceration.
-Loss of approximately $200,000 in annual jail housing revenue from other counties due to jail being filled to capacity with local inmates.
-Drug related crimes have doubled and thefts and burglaries have increased by 48% since 2003.
-The drug of choice in Crawford County is now heroin with approximately one-third to one-half of the average daily jail population being addicted to heroin.
-Over the last several years, Crawford County has consistently ranked in the top ten in the State of Ohio for the number of heroin related deaths.
THE EFFORTS
Crawford County’s elected leaders have worked diligently to maintain the cost of providing core government services. Since 2006, the actual cost of providing core government services has only increased by 2.9%. PRIOR to asking taxpayers to approve additional revenue to support public safety and criminal justice service, in our county the following financial reductions and changes were made:
-General Fund budgets were reduced 17% lower than actual expenditures for 2009.
-Elected official salaries were frozen in 2008 indefinitely.
-County General and Jail Fund employee salaries were frozen in 2009.
-All NON-MANDATED financial support was reduced or eliminated for agencies such as: OSU Extension, Soil and Water, Regional Planning & Economic Development, and the Fair Board.
- Employer contributions for health care were frozen at 2009 expenditure levels.
-Health insurance contributions by employees increased in 2010.
-Health insurance deductibles were imposed for 2010.
-All NON-MANDATED travel was eliminated, and all equipment, capital improvements and facility maintenance budgets were reduced and/or deferred.
THE IMPACT
Because government agencies are so interrelated, any further reductions in budgets or workforce will result in significant delays in providing government services from ALL COUNTY GENERAL AND JAIL FUND DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES, INCLUDING ALL COURT SYSTEMS, THE COUNTY AUDITOR, CLERK OF COURTS, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY PROSECUTOR, COUNTY RECORDER, COUNTY SHERIFF, COUNTY TREASURER.
With ever increasing unfunded state and federal mandates and given the fact that current employment levels of the county are 12% lower than employment levels nearly a decade ago and with a declining tax base and revenue streams, providing core government services in a timely manner is becoming nearly impossible.
Again, the challenges our county faces are significant. We must come together as a community to take charge of these issues to ensure a brighter, safer future for the place in which we live and work. Please join us by endorsing and supporting the five-year, 2.75 mill property tax levy on August 3rd.
Sincerely,
County Commissioner, Gary Miller
County Commissioner, Mo Ressallat
County Commissioner, Doug Weisenauer
County Treasurer, Gary Cole
County Prosecutor, Stan Flegm
County Auditor, Robin Hildebrand
County Engineer, Cecil Newcome
County Recorder, Karen Scott
County Clerk of Courts, Sue Seevers
County Sheriff, Ron Shawber
No comments:
Post a Comment