MANSFIELD, Ohio – Richland County Commissioners are working diligently to pass the county’s 2016 budget by the end of 2015. If that happens, commissioners say it would be the first time in recent memory.
“I think it would make it so much easier for the departments and elected officials if they know starting Jan. 1 what their budget is and they can anticipate and prepare throughout the year,” Commissioner Marilyn John said in a November interview with Richland Source. “I have to commend the departments because they’ve been very good about watching their spending, and revenues are a percentage or two up more than what we projected.
“Hopefully by the time we get the budget done, it’ll be closer than what we had anticipated.”
The county’s total budget for 2016 was listed at $30,964,162 during Tuesday’s meeting. Commissioners discussed the Richland County Sheriff’s $4 million budget extensively, nothing they would meet with deputies in the future to further clarify budget needs.
John reported the sheriff’s office is down six deputies – three positions that need to be backfilled due to retirements or resignations in 2015, and three that would be new hires.
“We have not been adding, even though the sheriff would like some additional manpower out there, we’ve been replacing people who have left,” said Commissioner Gary Utt.
Commissioners settled on a $2.9 million budget for salaries within the sheriff’s office. First-year deputies earn $37,400 per year.
Commissioner Tim Wert noted the equipment budget in the sheriff’s office has consistently increased over the last five years. The gas line item within the budget also showed a consistent increase in line with rising gas prices.
“That equipment line item has been rising like a thermometer on a July day,” he commented.
One piece of equipment in contention within the budget was the introduction of body cameras. According to John, $51,160 was included in the equipment line item for body cameras. When John asked if body cameras were needed, Wert commented that body cameras seemed to be “the way of the world.”
“If you consider what some of these legal cases have cost us, I think if we have a camera on an officer that would clarify what went on – in the world today when we watch TV, it seems to be they air out the facts that are sometimes not known,” said Wert. “I think many times the body cameras protect the officers as well as the people they are after.”
Utt also voiced his support for officers wearing body cameras.
“I think one of the benefits is the fact that it could and would reduce lawsuits because of the fact, here’s what you see,” said Utt. “And if there is a lawsuit it’s probably more legitimate.”
In other budget discussions, commissioners reviewed encumbrance requests across all funds, general and non-general.
According to clerk Stacy Crall, total encumbrances across all funds represented $116,000 to date this year. John calculated that general fund encumbrances were roughly $77,000 – a number Crall stated was “really low.” John explained the high number of encumbrances comes from year-end spending, where many departments delay making needed purchases until they are sure funds are available.
“Some of these departments have had specific needs we haven’t been able to fund so they’ve been diligent with their funds and haven’t spent it, and now they have the money to pay for things they need,” said Wert.
Crall pointed out money for the items has already been appropriated for the line items listed. Commissioners delayed accepting the encumbrances until their Thursday meeting.
