Fayette commissioners approve tentative budget
The Fayette County Commissioners approved a tentative 2004 general fund budget Monday that includes a $782,182.88 deficit but not a tax increase or layoffs. Voting in favor of the motion were Commission Chairman Vincent A. Vicites and Commissioner Ronald M. Nehls. Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh voted against the proposed budget, having proposed his own alternative that called for laying off 20 to 30 employees.
The commissioners have until Dec. 31 to adopt a balanced budget, as stipulated by state law. During the debate prior to the approval, county manager Warren Hughes outlined three budgets, one proposed by each of the three commissioners. Cavanagh’s reflected a deficit of $480,952.67 and Nehls’ reflected a deficit of $620,682.88.
The proposed budget that was given the nod of approval includes a millage rate equal to the 2003 rate of 2.5151 mills. The $17,220,651.26 budget includes a projected $9,820,113.83 in total real estate taxes at an estimated rate of collection of 85 percent.
The version that was approved was essentially Vicites’ budget, with a few modifications. Hughes said the major difference between the three budgets was that Cavanagh’s included personnel cuts and the other two did not. Nehls budget included an amount of $190,500 from the sale of the property surrounding the Great Meadows Amphitheater, but Cavanagh said the money can’t be used as revenue for the general fund. The money can only be used for certain parks and recreation purposes.
Cavanagh said he doesn’t believe that the budget is bare bones in every office and there can be more streamlining, or layoffs. He said he is against a tax increase.
“My goal is to protect the masses and not the few,” Cavanagh said. He said the county can show leadership where the state hasn’t in passing a budget.
Vicites said the commissioners need to re-examine the budget before final adoption and cut down as far as possible without cutting mandated services. Vicites called layoffs a “second last resort” and said raising taxes is a last resort. In proposing the budget with a $700,000-plus deficit, Vicites said the commissioners should start at that level and “whittle down from there.”
Cavanagh said mandated services have never been in jeopardy. He said the health care costs are out of control and there are row officers who need jobs cut.
Vicites said he streamlines on a daily basis as a fiscal conservative. He said he doesn’t want to raise taxes, but noted that health care costs are jumping another 18 percent next year. Vicites said there have been double-digit health care increases in six out of the last eight years. He added that there have been decisions that have cost the county money, such as an extra $100,000 per year to switch human resource firms, which he voted against.
In going along with Vicites budget, Nehls said he wanted two things addressed – he said he wants to give more money to Penn State and he wouldn’t vote for a budget without a cost of the records department.
“We have a drastic need for a records department,” Nehls said. Included in the budget are $20,000 for Penn State and $28,500 for the records archivist position. Nehls has said that he would favor a small tax increase.
Nehls said as a realist he doesn’t want to raise taxes but said the county has to pay for the fact that the commissioners have been “fiscally responsible.” He said 2004 is a pivotal year and they have to get out of the doldrums by pushing themselves up and doing what is right for a change.
Vicites said since the money for the records archivist isn’t coming from the records fund because the records committee has refused to pay, it will have to come out of the general fund. However, he said when the grievance is completed, the money can come out of the records fund. “They’ve left us no choice because they refused to pay it,” he said.
Cavanagh suggested that having employees kick in to help pay for health care coverage is an option. The proposed budget is available for public review and will adopted following a 20-day comment period.