Officials reviewing budget
The new Butler County commissioners will review the 2016 county budget passed by the former commissioners.
Last week, former commissioners Bill McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton approved the $150.7 million budget with a total 27.6 mill property tax rate — which is a 3-mill tax increase. This tax increase was used to plug a $4.4 million deficit.
Former Commissioner Jim Eckstein voted against the budget.
On Monday, new Commissioner Leslie Osche, board chairman, said the commissioners have identified four priorities for the budget and the county’s operations to review.
The first one is cash flow. Near the end of 2015, the county was running out of money and also had to deal with a state budget impasse because Republican legislators and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf could not agree on a state budget for 2015-2016. Osche noted that this impasse is ongoing, and that there is a chance of another impasse for the 2016-2017 state budget.
“We made it through this year, but we will not sustain another budget impasse,” Osche said.
She said the commissioners will work with county Treasurer Diane Marburger and county Controller Ben Holland on budget issues.
A second priority is revenue confirmation with Osche saying the commissioners and department heads will work to make sure departments’ projected budgets are more in line with their actual expenses. Osche said the commissioners themselves are committed to reducing their office’s expenses by $100,000.
Other priorities are restoring the county’s fund balance and restoring the county’s operating and capital reserves.
Osche said the county made no contributions to the capital reserve fund in 2015, and said none are budgeted for 2016. She said this is not good, especially considering the county will need to pay millions of dollars in the future for a new 911 radio system, and the courthouse needs expensive repairs.
Osche said that after their review, the commissioners will decide whether or not to make any changes to the budget.
The commissioners have 30 days to decide to amend the budget, and then they have to advertise their intent 10 days before a vote.
These changes could include a decrease to the tax increase or a further increase. Solicitor Mike English said there is a 10-percent cap on further tax increases.
Due to the time constraints, Osche said it is unlikely that commissioners will have the opportunity to amend the budget.
“We have been handed a very tall order,” Osche said.
She also said that the county will have to closely monitor its financial statements.
Commissioner Kim Geyer asked county residents for patience while the commissioners work on items such as the budget.
“(We will work to) do what is necessary to make Butler County right again,” Geyer said.
Commissioner Kevin Boozel said he and the other two commissioners have made a commitment to the residents to work on issues such as these.
“I’m very confident in the fact that we are going to make some positive headway in Butler County,” Boozel said.
Osche, Geyer and Boozel were sworn in Monday morning and had their first meeting Monday afternoon.
