JEFFERSON — Ashtabula County commissioners gave the general fund an infusion of much-needed cash Tuesday afternoon.
A resolution declaring the forfeiture of certain building department funds will move $388,036.43 into the general fund. Clearing or “sweeping” certain accounts with accumulated funds in them is one of the many options commissioners decided to take in their effort to address the county’s $3-million shortfall in income.
Jim Hardin, county budget director, said the money has been in the accounts for at least five years and was eligible for forfeiture. The monies represent forfeitures of deposits for incomplete building permits, failure to obtain a certificate of occupancy and failure to request the required inspections on residential building permits prior to 2005.
In the past, the accounts have been haphazardly cleared. Hardin said the county has been working with the state auditor’s office to set up a schedule for regular maintenance to these accounts. In the future, funds more than five years old will be swept annually.
Tuesday’s action is similar to the eleventh-hour rescue of the county’s budget last year, when funds in accounts outside the general fund were swept. Hardin said there are 900 different funds, and each one is being examined. But the chance of finding enough money to solve the current budget crisis is pretty slim.
“We assume we’ve covered most of them, but we’re still looking,” Hardin said.
His latest forecast for the county’s finances is that sales tax receipts will drop by at least $1 million from last year. Commissioners are awaiting the February collection figure, which should indicate if the steep drop off experienced in January was just a fluke or a pacesetter for the entire year. Commissioner Joseph Moroski said if the income drops again, it will force commissioners to make yet another round of reductions.
Commissioners have decided to postpone a vote on the reduced appropriations until next Tuesday because of scheduling conflicts for the balance of the week. For most elected officials, the reductions will about to about 20 percent.
In other action Tuesday, commissioners:
Approved contracts for the purchase of service contracts funded by the Senior Services Levy. Contracts were approved with Ashtabula Regional Home Health Services for in-home care, not to exceed $134,564; Ashtabula County Community Action, education and wellness programs, not to exceed $11,000; Warren Family Enterprises (Comfort Keepers), in-home care, not to exceed $162,392; Conneaut Human Resources Center, education and wellness, not to exceed $24,000; and Ashtabula County Council on Aging, three contracts – discounted senior tickets, not to exceed $3,150; recreational trips, $12,000; and light home repair, $29,495.
Approved a contract with Jess Howard Electric Company not to exceed $273,707, for a pump station standby generator replacement. The project, funded 60/40 by the Ohio Public Works Commission and county sanitary sewer funds, went to an out-of-town contractor because no local contractors returned the bid form.
Commissioner Daniel Claypool reluctantly voted yes for the project to move forward with Jess Howard, a Blacklick, Ohio, contractor.
“We thought this would be a nice project for a local company,” he said.
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