County may face $3.6M deficit
By Patrick Cooley, pcooley@mariettatimes.comBased on preliminary budget requests, Washington County may be as much as $3.6 million short for 2009.
According to Washington County Commissioner John Grimes, the revenue from the county sales tax is roughly 5 percent lower than what they had projected for this year. Several departments have also reported a spike in fuel costs for the year.
"We've already spent as much on fuel for this year as we did all of last year," said Bob Badger, county engineer.
Sheriff Larry Mincks said his department's projected their fuel costs are 65 percent higher than last year.
"In view of the current situation, I think every elected official ought to look very seriously, if anyone is retiring, into not replacing them," Commissioner Sam Cook said. "We should see if we can get along with what we have."
Prosecutor Jim Schneider said he has considered such a measure, but no one in his department is close to retirement.
"We can't force people to retire," he said.
For the upcoming year, the prosecutor's office requested approximately $45,000 more than they received 2008 to cover various rising expenses.
Grimes called the $3.6 million budget shortage a worst-case scenario.
"The expenses were estimated as high as they can be and the revenues were estimated as low as they can be," he said.
The sheriff's office requested nearly $84,000 more than they requested in 2008. Mincks said he sought the extra money for courthouse cameras and equipment upgrades. The department cannot afford any reduction in staff, he said.
"We are currently at our minimum manpower (at the county jail), and our population continues to go up," Mincks said. If there were financial cuts to the department, "we would have to evaluate how much of a cut was made. We would look at overtime and training and equipment and not replacing what we would need to replace. If we had older equipment, we might hang on to it for another year.
"Cutting personnel is a last resort," he said.
The Ohio State University Extension office in Marietta had to cut 1.75 positions in 2007. Eric Barrett, agricultural educator, said they will have to wait until they see the funds allotted for 2009 to determine if additional cuts will be necessary.
"We've already made a lot of those changes because the county has been short over the past few years," he said. "We try to be fiscally conservative, and we have been able to get grants and contracts in the past, but you're not always able to rely on those."
Barrett said the tax revenue reports the commissioners have are always a few months behind and might not take into account some of the summer festivals that bring tourists to Washington County.
"We can only hope that these events will continue to bring in tourists and help our retail sales tax," he said. "And we continue to encourage people to shop in Washington County."
The Juvenile and Probate Courts reduced their budget requests for 2009, but the Common Pleas Court asked for roughly $50,000 more than in 2008.
Common Pleas Court Judge Susan Boyer said the judges could not comment on their budget request until they had all met and decided if further action needed to be taken.
Last year, the courts issued orders for the commissioners to appropriate nearly $217,000 in additional funds for new employees and raises for their current employees, stating they needed them to retain staff and handle their ever increasing caseload.
The commissioners initially denied the order, but eventually were able to find the appropriations to fund the request because revenues were higher than anticipated and they cut $110,000 from the budget for public defender contracts.
Grimes said the sales tax is currently as high as they the county is allowed to have it under the Ohio Revised Code.
"We currently have no other avenues for revenue," he said. "I think departments need to be aware that budgets are going to be really tight for next year, and everybody needs to think about what they ask for and how they are going to run the department if the state of the economy doesn't pick up and the sales tax continues to lag behind."
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OneAmongThem
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07-21-08 9:51 PM
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If there was something, then why wouldn't you step up and say it so that something could be done. No reason to believe something that can't be backed up with facts.
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washcoresident
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07-21-08 9:36 PM
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Agenda. I will stop at that because in time you will see what will happen. The fire department will be the one to suffer. Sad but true.
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OneAmongThem
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07-21-08 8:14 PM
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Bravo formermttan! You've hit the nail on the head. washcoresident, what would that agenda be that you are talking about? An agenda of service? Wouldn't that be considered his job he was elected for? And the volunteering? Come on.
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washcoresident
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07-21-08 5:28 PM
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That is right, his own agenda. Fact is, he feels he did the best he could and now the taxpayers have spoken. My hope is that when Mr Cook retires after the election the Rep. party doesn't put John back in office.
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formermttan
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07-21-08 5:15 PM
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John worked for the fire department for his own personal agenda?? I guess if his personal agenda is that he wants to serve others, I would agree with you there. Amazing how low people stoop for THEIR own personal agendas. Smearing the name of someone who has given so much is really pathetic. How many of you who whine on here are ready at the drop of a hat to do squad runs, then be in the office and/or in meetings both days and evenings? The job he has done is very commendable; those who smear him have their own vindictive reasons. Just wait until January and those who were hell-bent to rid the county of John will see how hard he worked, because I don't know any other candidates for that office who are willing to put in the time he did. He went above and beyond what was required, and I, for one, am very appreciative of his sacrifice.
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washcoresident
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07-21-08 2:56 PM
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John did work tirelessly but for his own personal adgenda only. He also worked years for the fire dept, again for his personal agenda. New officials will be welcome in this county and if they don't do the job they are elected to do then in 4 years we will have a chance to change that.
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formermttan
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07-21-08 10:44 AM
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It is very frustrating to see the comments of so many who think they know what they are talking about and have no clue. John has worked tirelessly to do his best for this county and this is the thanks he gets. It is amusing to hear that those who are running now for the first time think this is going to be a part-time job. One says that the meetings will have to be around HIS schedule. One says she can probably put in 12-14 hours a week. One is "bored" with meetings and picks and chooses what to attend. As far as the prescriptions goes, that is a savings to the county to use the mail-order prescriptions - I'd think the taxpayers would appreciate that. The sales tax issue - Sandy Matthews was a commissioner when that went into effect & said it was also meant for captial funds - meaning the jail. The sheriff wants the county to pay out of the general fund and sit on their surplus. Would you rather other things be cut so the sheriff can sit on their money?
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OneAmongThem
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07-21-08 8:10 AM
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Wow, some of you actually believe that the elected officials have this much power? Taken the income tax from the sherrif dept? Ha, if that was true, I guess that it shows they don't really need that extra revenue, since they have more than enough toys to use for this county and not even had to have used that money. Don't get me wrong, kudos to this department for their hard work, but they happen to have a surplus they are sitting on while wanting more of your tax dollars from the county given anyway. And who cares where Mr. Grimes gets his prescriptions? I mean seriously? You don't have a clue what happened to his business either, if you actually believe what you said about what happened. Kind of shows why so many have decided to take it upon themselves to "get rid" of those left there". All I say is, blessings on the ones going in. They have so much to find out, and sadly, it is going to be a tough school.
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steelcurtain
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07-20-08 10:42 PM
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With a comment like that, Graceanne, I think you should run as well. It is our right as a free nation to critise our elected government officials. We are the ones who gave them their job, and if they are not doing the job up to our standards then they need to hear about it. Free speech, ever hear of it?
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washcoresident
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07-20-08 1:37 PM
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OneAmongThem must be just that, The Good Ole Boys Club.
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Graceanne
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07-20-08 8:46 AM
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Just wondering if any of you who are complaining so much about how the city is run and thks this one or that should have done this or that have ever thought of running for an office yourself. It's one thing to sit back and point fingers when you're on the outside but another when dealing with the gov. red tape baloney on the inside. Politics is dirty no matter how you slice it so if you're so clean run for office .
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Indian
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07-19-08 11:08 PM
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The name says it all: "MisterWonderful" My eye!!!!
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MisterWonderful
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07-19-08 10:18 PM
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All our current commissioners need to be replaced and start over with new ones. Here's another way to save some money. How about making all dept.s pay the same amount out of pocket for health insurance. The health dept. employees do not pay anything for insurance yet Sheriff's employees pay almost $300 per month. And the commissioners are talking about raising insurance yet again. When is it going to stop. I can barely afford to get sick anymore because of it.
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MisterWonderful
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07-19-08 10:15 PM
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OneAmongThem, where exactly have you been for the last couple of years? John Grimes is not the "hero" you say he is. He once denied a request because it was not on the right color paper. He talks about spending within the county yet, he admits to buying his prescriptions through the mail, meaning he goes outside the county to buy his medications. As for all the commissioners, they were elected because they said they could do the job better than the previous ones, yet they had to hire Sandy Matthews to help them after they took office because they admitted they did not know what they were doing.
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thecutlerkid
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07-19-08 8:17 PM
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John Grimes has stolen thehalf cent sales tax that was to be used strictly for the Sheriff's Office and used a loophole to fund other county projects with. This is why the Sheriff will have to redo his budget. Hopefully we have some decent people in their now that will make smart decisions. Also ask John why his he went bankrupt with his business and we trusted this guy with our tax money. This county is one step closer to being the next Morgan County!
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smokehouse
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07-19-08 8:07 PM
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Maybe if all the county commission would resign and hire a county manager that has a degree in county management we could all get along better.
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OneAmongThem
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07-19-08 6:06 PM
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Whats really sad about that is that while he was voted against by his "caring" neighbors, he was still actually caring about them by volunteering for them through his 30 year service at their own VFD. As far as Mr. Cook, he is another very caring individual with a good heart for our community. I just think it's sad to hear so much complaining about these people who serve our communities by whining about everything and missing out on the good of it all. Some really believe it is up to government to make all of our lives be the way we expect them to be. C'mon people, do we really have it all that bad in this community?
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washcoresident
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07-19-08 2:29 PM
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Check out the election results. The real John lost the election in his own precinct. His own neighbors voted against him. If the newly elected officials feel they need to go back for help, they will have to go back further than this bunch we have now. Also,Mr Cook needs to take his own advice - retire - he wouldn't have to be replaced. He could then get some needed rest and sleep at home.
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NasCarNut
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07-19-08 1:23 PM
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guess they need to cut back like the rest of us have had to...redo the budget just like we did..
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OneAmongThem
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07-19-08 1:20 PM
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I agree with part of what you said Indian. Sadly, John did indeed take all the flack. Unfortunately, that is a part about "politics" that has to go along with the "good". Thats one part that stinks. Some truly will not speak up for their strong beliefs because they are too afraid of stepping on toes, and losing their jobs. I tell you what I believe, that this is why John was so ridiculed. He wasn't afraid to stand up for what he believed was right, and sometimes some toes got stepped on in the process. People need to realize that things don't always go their way, because sometimes there are other ways that go before our own. That's the way real politicians should work, together, for the good of all people, not just special interest groups only.
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Indian
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07-19-08 12:31 PM
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It is a shame to bad-mouth a man when the entire county is responsible for the dilema. The other two commissioner sat silently as one man tried to balance a budget, deal with insurance issues, and do his other commissioner duties. Where is all the grief for the other two. They voted for evrything. No nays when it was time to vote. But they allowed John to catch all the heck. John might, I said might have errored, but the other two guys were also to blame.
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OneAmongThem
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07-19-08 12:13 PM
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Actually yes, I do know the real John Grimes. And obviously in that, I strongly believe that you must not. In fact, I know several county employees who work very close to him, and they too know what he does for this community. I'm sorry that you don't really know what kind of a person John really is. He is as human as the rest of us, and makes mistakes, but he has always had the best interests of this area at heart first. Sometimes he has made some mad, but if people want a "yes" person in there, and then find out you can't "yes" to everyone all the time, and everyone stays happy, needs to face reality. That will happen eventually. I guess it's really tough to know a real person's best intentions when we get so much media negativity. Just wait until the next ones, who are trying to fill in the county offices next in line, come to find out that this position is not just a few hours a week position. I know who they will want to call back for help.
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mariettarob
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07-19-08 11:25 AM
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Do you know the real Grimes? A vindictive and poor administrator who has used his position for too long to advance his own personal agenda. Ask any county employee about John and you will find a scant few that are sorry to see him go. I just hope he doesn't screw the budget up any before he goes any more than he has in the past.
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OneAmongThem
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07-19-08 10:02 AM
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Best to those who are trying to come into the county government at this time. It's a shame that many voters didn't understand how important it was to keep some familiar faces in office as we are go through some tough fiscal times for this county. John Grimes has some very big shoes to fill, as he worked for this county relentlessly, basically working through the budget singlehandedly, and fairly, may I add. All I can think of is, in the long run, he is the more blessed to be not having to deal with this mess for awhile, that some county departments have helped put our county in by demanding more when they knew the state our county was in. John, I for one, thank you for what you have done for us here in Washington County. Not just in office but in your personal service to so many. Some won't have a clue what you did until there is no one that is left there that can fill your shoes.
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