County finances looking better in 2011

Van Wert independent

The Van Wert County Board of Commissioners heard some good news on county finances during a department heads meeting Thursday morning and then worked on next year’s budget with County Auditor Nancy Dixon the rest of the day.

Commissioner Gary Adams said County Treasurer Bev Fuerst had good news on permissive tax revenues, reporting that permissive tax receipts were up more than $25,000 in May alone, and approximately $200,000 over last year at this time. Adams said motor vehicle sales made up the bulk of the increase.

He did caution, though, that permissive tax increases could be offset by cuts to the state local government funds when the Ohio General Assembly passed the state’s biennial budget. Deadline for doing so is June 30.

Adams said Dixon was optimistic that the county would not see a budget shortfall for the coming year. He even thought there could be enough money to provide county employees with a small wage increase in the coming fiscal year.

County employees have not had a raise in several years, with many of them experiencing a 10-percent pay cut because of the voluntary furlough program implemented by the commissioners in an attempt to avoid having to lay off employees.

Also Tuesday, department heads heard from Vicki Shipp, a new representative of Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. who introduced herself at the morning meeting. Adams said county employees can participate in a program developed by Pre-Paid Legal Services that offers a number of legal services.