By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The Crawford County commissioners met with officials from the Crawford County Job and Family Services and Solid Waste Management District to discuss budget updates.
The news was grim from Fiscal Administrator Melinda Crall-Cauley and fiscal consultant Jack Hogan. The department’s expenditures year-to-date have already outpaced its revenues, a trend that was not too surprising as the expenditures were expected to exceed revenue in the 2016 forecast.
One of the major hurdles for JFS is the cost of foster care. Hogan said the annual cost of foster care was $1,465,739.79, with $647,389.94 being picked up by local or levy sources. The balance is covered by ProtectOhio funds.
“I know the question’s been asked: if we need a levy, what do we need,” Hogan said. “It’d probably be nice to break even. This doesn’t even count what the debt is due to the PA fund. It’s just here’s where we are on an ongoing basis. We probably need to look at a potential levy that would be three times to break even, four times to get a cushion. We don’t see the cost of kids going down.”
Hogan said Crawford County was not the only one in this kind of position.
“A lot of places are feeling the exact same punch,” he added. “They’re all just really struggling with the same issue. There’s no easy answer.”
JFS Director Linda Bassett said they have put measures in place to reduce placement costs.
News was slightly less grim on the Recycling Center side. Brian Rockwell, Director of the Solid Waste Management District, said they are currently waiting on Ohio EPA’s approval of the district’s five-year plan, which includes an increase in rates for in-county and out-of-county refuse drop-off. With news circling down that Ohio EPA is ahead of schedule on the plans, he believed that the county could have the approved plan back before the expected 90 days.
The fees will not be implemented until the commissioners pass a resolution.
The Recycling Center’s expenditures were on track for the year, but the forecast showed no cash balance growth, a fact that would hamper operations if a large equipment failure occurred.
Commissioner Steve Reinhard brought up the fact that layoffs had been discussed a year ago, though nothing was acted upon.
“I guess if we reach that crossroad we can take a look at it again,” Rockwell said.