Commissioner Chair Wants Overall Budget Reduction
Commissioner Chair Pat Fabian said that even though County expenses were slightly-less than 50 percent as of June 30, the ultimate goal is to reduce the overall budget by 1.5 mills - the amount of the tax increase implemented by last year’s Board of Commissioners.
by Jonathan Weaver
Nearly half of the County’s $21.3 million budget has already been used through the first six months, County officials reported yesterday – but to some, it’s still too much.
As expected, Commissioners Pat Fabian, Jason Renshaw and George Skamai released estimated figures during their bi-monthly public meeting.
“As far as expenditures, from a County perspective, we spent 49 percent of what was budgeted,” Fabian said. “And, as far as revenue received, we have obtained 66 percent of that revenue. About $1.4 million was tax revenue – which is our big collection base.
“Halfway through the year, we’re on target for where the budget is right now.”
Commissioner Jason Renshaw added that some major expenditures came during the first six months and he hopes for those to stabilize. Commissioners approved the spending of $10.5 million through June 30.
Director of Administration Jennifer Long clarified those expenditures – including annual maintenance and software agreements - were all in the county’s $21.3 million budget. Salaries and benefits remain the county’s top expense.
“Even with those, we’re still doing well with the budget,” Long said. “There isn’t a department that’s way-over budget being made up for by one that’s under. Everyone’s doing a good job of keeping it where it should be this time of year.”
Still, in an exclusive interview with the Kittanning Paper, Commissioner Fabian said that it still is “not enough”.
“It’s not enough – I’ll be honest. We’ve saved in a lot of areas, but we haven’t had the big-number (savings) come through. Whether you take the cars off the road from going to or from home or reorganize(ing) some departments, there has been some considerable savings, but we’re continuing to look at ways to save money,” Fabian said. “We’ve identified four or five, and we’re exploring those options.
“Our goal is to not have a tax increase, but more importantly, to reduce it to where it was before last year (reducing taxes by one-and-a-half mills).”
More State and Federal funding is expected during the next six months.
The budget report came after earlier this month, commissioners ‘thawed’ a portion of their self-imposed employment and capital purchases freeze.
Executive Director of Administration Dan Lucovich initially recommended the ending of the freezes due to “some needed vacancies that need filled and some major improvements that need to take place in the county.”
“It’s an opportunity that as we go forward to keep improving the county, if there are new vacancies that need to be developed and filled, we want to make sure we can have those opportunities to do that,” Lucovich expanded.
Lucovich noted some upcoming vacancies, some via retirement, which may or may not be filled.
“But, we want to have the opportunity to replace them if they are needed,” Lucovich said following the July 7 public meeting.
The six-month freezes enabled commissioners to analyze department needs and operations, Commissioner George Skamai said.
When it comes to capital purchases, Lucovich specifically identified an air-conditioning problem in both the county administration building and courthouse that could take “major dollars to fix.”
The air conditioning system was installed in 2008.
Commissioners Fabian and Renshaw reiterated that the ‘thaw’ is a gradual process.
“Those hiring or capital purchases will continue to go under the same scrutiny as requests came in during the first six months of the year. Just because they’re recommended, suggested, requested or budgeted for doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to approve them – but we’ll entertain those,” Fabian said.
“It went from the freezer to the refrigerator. It’s a slow thaw,” Renshaw added.
In response to Kiski Township resident Regina Liermann, Fabian said those requests will be considered on a “case-by-case basis.”
“Before we didn’t even entertain the thought. Now, we’ll actually look at it,” Renshaw clarified. “It doesn’t mean it’s actually going to happen – (officials) still have to show us where (the department) is going to save enough money in your budget to hire somebody. Unless it’s something urgent to increase the safety and productivity of the county.”
Commissioners have reportedly already begun the budget process with department leaders.
Commissioner Jason Renshaw explained that the spending ‘thaw’ implemented a few weeks ago does not guarantee automatic approvals for employees or capital expenditures.
Local News | jweaver July 22, 2016
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By ktown_kid, July 22, 2016 @ 6:15 AM
So commissioners does that mean clean drinking water (u know when the water runs brown out the faucets), backed up toilets and other building issues to make a safe work place were entertained but feel into that scrutinized area that doesn’t necessarily need fixed? Have you done anything to bring revenue in? We the taxpayers have yet to see 1 article about that? Maybe Renshaw can donate some of his overpriced pumpkin money back to the county this year!!!
By jorn jensen, July 22, 2016 @ 6:52 AM
“hopes for those to stabilize”. As a ‘leader’, you don’t ‘hope’, you take action steps to make it happen.
I’m impressed with Pat Fabian - he’s taking steps, in addition to ‘the talk’, to make things happen. Perhaps Pat Fabian is one reason why Manor Township was/is so well-run. I recall one of his comments from the commissioner run - something to the effect, “We fix our equipment - we don’t run out and buy new, new, new.” Repair and maintenance extends the life of good equipment, so that is a good policy.