Dec 13, 2002 By Steve Ostrosky 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – With little discussion, the Greene County Commissioners approved a $23 million budget for 2003 on Thursday morning that incorporates all of the county’s funding sources into one plan. The $23,390,691 budget has general fund expenditures of $10,810,470, includes several new requests for the upcoming year, but cuts overall spending, according to budget director Scott Kelley.

Kelley said included in the 2003 budget is funding for two positions in the District Attorney’s office, a half-time assistant district attorney and a half-time county detective, and a mechanic position in the county maintenance department. Also, $100,000 in funds has been allocated to the Greene County Airport to be used as local match dollars for federal and state grant money that is earmarked for airport improvements.

Additionally, the budget includes a $366,000 payment to the county’s pension fund after the fund took a hit during a weak stock market, and a $25,000 allocation to the Greene County Humane Society for administrative costs.

Kelley said the $10.8 million general fund budget appears higher than the $10.2 million budget of last year, but the 2003 budget includes the payment to the pension fund and the inclusion of $500,000 in HOME Grant funds.

“Those two items right there were $866,000, but overall, this budget represents a decrease in most areas,” he said.

Items under consideration early in the budget process were $225,000 for the demolition of the old Curry Home and funds to pay for a move of the county 911 center from the airport to the Ben Franklin Building in downtown Waynesburg. Kelley said both items were not included in the final plan that was tentatively approved by commissioners last month and formally adopted Thursday.

The budget calls for no tax increase and a rate of 5.42 mills for the 2003 tax year, the first year following the county property reassessment.

Commissioners also adopted a resolution to take out a $2.9 million tax anticipation loan from Community Bank at a 2.03 percent rate.

Chief clerk Gene Lee said the commissioners asked that the earlier proposals be resubmitted up until 4 p.m. Wednesday in an attempt to get a better rate, and that effort saved the county almost $3,000.

Commissioners also voted to appoint commissioner Scott A. Blair, Ralph Bell and James Cowell to the Greene County Conservation District board, voted to appoint Ann Bargerstock to the Penn’s Corner Charitable Trust.

The commissioners also voted to reappoint Sheila Barger to the board of directors of the Greene County Industrial Development Authority.

Following the meeting, the salary board briefly convened to take action on several personnel moves.

The board voted to hire Ed Abbott and Richard Owens as temporary planner/trainers in the 911 center at $8 an hour, effective Dec. 2.

Tracy Zivkovich, county human resources director, said the positions were created through a Homeland Security grant.

Other moves taken by the board were the appointment of Cathy Kirby to the position of Secretary III/Tourism Coordinator in the Recreation Department at $8.98 an hour, effective Nov. 4; and the appointment of Jodi Giocondi as a project assistant in the Human Services Department, effective Dec. 16 with a pay rate of $7 an hour.

Also, the board created a county caseworker III position for the Human Services department and accepted the retirement of 911 telecommunications officer Phillip G. Renner.