Clerks office still running short of funds
Commissioners reject the latest plan to move moneyBy Patrick Cooley, pcooley@mariettatimes.com
The Washington County Clerk of Courts office might not have enough money to make its payroll, after county commissioners decided to reject the use of money from an account outside of the county budget.
The office needs roughly $41,000 to make the rest of the payrolls for the year in its legal division. Clerk of Courts Judy Van Dyk proposed emptying an excess revenue account to cover it, but commissioners said Thursday they would not approve that approach, because the money came from the title division.
"She's got to come up with some additional money," Commissioner Sam Cook said.
In mid-September, it came to light that the clerk of courts office was running out of money in the legal division salary line item and might not have enough to pay its employees for the reminder of the year. Van Dyk came up with the remaining money by taking more than $19,000 from a certificate of deposit put in a local bank before she was elected in 1996 and more than $58,000 from an excess revenue account.
The line item was running low because Van Dyk gave her employees raises beyond the 3 percent increase approved by commissioners at the beginning of the 2008 fiscal year. Van Dyk said she gave the raises to bring the salaries of her employees closer to that of counties of similar size and because employees of the Common Pleas and Juvenile/Probate courts were given raises beyond 3 percent after the judges mandated it with a court order.
About two weeks ago, the commissioners approved the $19,000 from the CD, but did not approve the $58,000. Cook said the money in the account comes from the title division and should be used for the title division.
"I don't really understand why that is," Van Dyk said. "We do give a considerable amount of money from the title office into the general fund every year."
Van Dyk said her options included using the rest of the money from the CD, nearly $25,000, or borrowing money from other departments. However, she said she doubted any other departments had money to spare.
The money needs to be in place by Oct. 17, the end of the county's next two-week pay period.
In August, the commissioners moved money from several accounts back into the general fund after they were told by the auditor the county was not bringing in as much revenue as expected.
They did this with the help of the budget commission by reviewing the hundreds of line items in the county budget and finding money that could be spared. Cook said they could do this again if they had to, but he was unsure if there was any money left.
There have also been questions raised about the CD money.
Commissioners received a letter from Common Pleas Judge Ed Lane which stated that the CD may have been set aside for a court case and, if so, could not be withdrawn without a court order. By the time they received the letter, however, the commissioners had already approved its use.
"I believe there should be some kind of record out there as to why this money was put into a CD" Van Dyk said. "From the information I have, there are no cases out there."
County auditor Bill McFarland said he spoke with the local government representatives from the state auditor's office and was told it is the responsibility of the elected official in charge of the department, in this case, Van Dyk, to determine if the certificate could be used.
Outside accounts and the certificate are reported to the state auditor yearly, but the office does not investigate their origins, McFarland said.
There is roughly $1.2 million in unallocated money from the sales tax, but commissioners maintain this is enough to run the county for about a month and should be kept in case of an emergency.
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JohnnyRingo
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10-11-08 6:49 PM
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Are you ‘mrknowitall01’ from ‘The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show’?
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hockeypuck
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10-11-08 5:12 PM
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Like I have said many times, the commissioners basically just pay bills. Here, they are making that process more difficult so they can get some press.
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mrknowitall01
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10-11-08 1:59 PM
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Johnnyringo and ramon need to grow up. two peas in a pod. Why don't both of you shut up and go to a different blog. They should have a minimum age limit for people to get on here and blog.
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JohnnyRingo
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10-11-08 10:52 AM
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ramon05........... can you even remember "the issue at hand"?
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ramon05
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10-11-08 10:47 AM
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I think johnnydingo is smitten. This bring back school days memory with all this puppylove stuff. maybe you and GI jane need to go over to match****, and let the rest of us discuss the issues at hand.
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ramon05
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10-11-08 10:00 AM
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AND THIS IS STAYING ON THE SUBJECT JOHNNYDINGO. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH!1 MAYBE THAT CHIN STRAP ON YOUR FOOTBALL HELMET NEEDS TO BE LOOSED
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JohnnyRingo
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10-11-08 9:23 AM
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WVCountryBoy.... You called me a leach? Why, whatever do you mean? Don't you have a closing or something you should be doin?
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WVCountryBoy
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10-11-08 12:39 AM
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Johnny Ringo I can sense a spark between you and GIJane. Im not sure I can stand here and let this online flirting continue. Have fun eating your dope make sure you wash it down with some alcohol. Leach.
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JohnnyRingo
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10-10-08 10:12 PM
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I've had enough. I'm going to take some benzodiazepines and go to bed with my agenda. Enjoy this insanity.........
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usmcE4dstormvet
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10-10-08 10:08 PM
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I know some people that work there and I'm not interested in ANY help they can provide. Most of them need to be committed.
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JohnnyRingo
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10-10-08 9:58 PM
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You're sick........ lol I'll call Mental Health for you tonight. The people with the straight jacket will be there shortly. Stay Calm........
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usmcE4dstormvet
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10-10-08 9:55 PM
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Johnny...that's not your agenda in front of you. Your agenda is in your hand!
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JohnnyRingo
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10-10-08 9:51 PM
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bitter..... My agenda isn’t hidden. It’s right out in front of me. It’s challenging all the mental midgets out there with an axe to grind against the common good. So if you’re interested, I’m your huckleberry!
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usmcE4dstormvet
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10-10-08 9:44 PM
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I'm a Girl and I do like his butt!
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Bittersweet
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10-10-08 9:39 PM
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JhonnyR, lol awwwww your inspirations are heart warming, but i know you are still a goat roper and a sneaky brown noser with hidden agendas. I also see you do have butt buddies in here,(USMC) too! :)
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JohnnyRingo
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10-10-08 9:38 PM
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You should see what's going on in the "Sheriff prods commissioners on courthouse security" blog. These people are down right mean on here. They don't like anyone.
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usmcE4dstormvet
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10-10-08 9:36 PM
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Not alot of thinking going on before the posts...huh?
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JohnnyRingo
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10-10-08 9:34 PM
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She called me a bad name......... I'm hurt.
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usmcE4dstormvet
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10-10-08 9:31 PM
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JohnnyRingo...you have issues! And I'm glad I agree with them! BitterSweet is a MORON!
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JohnnyRingo
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10-10-08 8:32 PM
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Whoa...... a little temper tantrum there Bittersweet! Don’t want you to go postal on us. You sound like you have some serious mental health issues going on in your head. You should probably contact Washington County Community Mental Health Services as soon as possible. They are located at 118 Putnam Street. Here’s the phone number: 374-6989. I hope they can be of help to you.
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Bittersweet
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10-10-08 8:02 PM
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Well, as I see it the "city" of marietta (mostly the elected officials) will be brushing their teeth and combing their hair (if they have any) for this MONDAY's guest. You already know who will be the celebrity on the front page hint: from the sheriff's office. hey where has that mayor been hiding hmmm no comments from him lately....must be having lunch with that new down town brown noser he helped to open his new store.
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JohnnyRingo
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10-10-08 6:58 PM
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Bittersweet….. “the city and it's sneaky brown nosers are ripping the city of marietta off”. Hey bitter, it’s a ‘County’ not a ‘City’ office. Hello???? Anyone home there?
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ledzeptour
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10-10-08 5:52 PM
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WE COULD HAVE A CONCERT LIKE THE MAYOR ONLY CHARGE TO GET IN AND RAISE MONEY TO PLAY THE PEOPLE
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ledzeptour
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10-10-08 5:50 PM
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GET THE WOLFE OUT OF HER CAGE AND LET HER GET WORKING VOTE NOV 4 FOR THE "WOLFE"!!!!!!!! ITS THE ONLY CHOICE FOR CLERK............ NOT SOMEONE READY TO RETIRE
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tattttms
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10-10-08 1:29 PM
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Indian keeps on saying he needs a bath, I think we should all chip in and buy him some soap. Then maybe he can make a constructive comment.
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