NOBODY LIKES TAXES

By Deborah Newcomb

Ashtabula County Commissioner

March 8, 2005

Why support ½ cent sales and use tax? Nobody likes the “T” word or wants new taxes imposed, nor do I. This increase is absolutely necessary if Ashtabula County is to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens. If enacted, the new tax would go into effect on July 1. On that same day, the new state budget is also scheduled to go into effect. One of the provisions of the Governor’s budget is lowering of the state sales tax by ½ cent. Consequently, residents of Ashtabula County will still pay the same total sales tax amount even when the county sales tax increase is enacted. That’s five cents on a $10 purchase.

The county sales tax increase hopes to generate $2 million dollars during 2005. The money will be restricted in its use to two purposes- (1) reinstate funding for the sheriff’s department and other law enforcement and justice operations of the county and (2) rebuild the county’s budget stabilization fund so that adequate funds are available in 2006 for law enforcement operations. All other departments will still be cut and forced to reduce hours or lay off employees as previously announced. In the Commissioners’ offices, for example, three additional employees have been laid off, bringing our total to 18 positions that have been cut or reduced since 2001.

The need for additional funding for the Sheriffs Department should be apparent to everyone. Ashtabula County has experienced an epidemic of drug-related activities and other criminal felony activity during recent years. The existence of numerous methamphetamine labs is a menace to every county resident. From 1997- 2004 there was over a 100% increase in criminal felony cases filed by the county prosecutor’s office-- from 229- 489.

The increase in caseloads for Common Pleas Court is a direct result of aggressive law enforcement and prosecution has increased criminal caseloads in 1994 with190 cases and in 2004 373 cases. Foreclosures have risen from 133 in 1994 to 610 in 2004.

The situation in the county’s juvenile justice system is just as onerous. Juvenile crime in the county continues to be a problem and caseloads have fluctuated over the last five year period with an all time high of over 4,119 cases in 2001. Last years numbers totaled 3,291, due to the success of many juvenile diversion programs.

Now is not the time to cut back on law enforcement operations. Our rural county has become a battleground for methamphetamine labs and they present a danger to our young people. Unfortunately, because of the county’s budget crisis, Sheriff Johnson was forced to lay off 43 personnel on March 3. Without the infusion of new tax dollars or revenue sources, these cuts will be made permanent, and the Sheriff will lose many valuable employees. They are the largest department in the general fund and in 2004 spent over $5.8M for operations, not including health care and workers comp.

Opponents to the tax state in their arguments that “spending is out of control” in county government. That statement is simply untrue. The total amount of general fund expenditures for 2005 will be less than it was in 2001. For example the county’s 2001 general revenue fund expenditures were $19,431,299. This year, the general fund expenditures will be around $19.2 million. Many county agencies are projected to receive less money this year than they did in 1996.

County spending has increased due to many state and federal mandated programs. These are programs that the county must fund due to state and federal law. What is irritating about these programs is the county no longer receives any revenue help from the state and federal governments, as in the past. Now they pay nothing and the cost is forced upon county taxpayers. A good example of this would be the Youth Detention Center with a 20 bed capacity. In 2000, $760,323 was spent and in 2004, while downsizing to a 10-12 bed capacity, $763,000 was spent. Funding for Public Defender and indigent defense in 2000 totaled $610,679 and in 2004 rose to$827,237. Today the county pays over a million to fund these programs; whereas a decade ago it paid a fraction of that amount.

To combat rising costs in health care, the County Commissioners in 2001 required employees to pay 10% of their health care premium, co-pays were established and the county last year joined a county health care pool. In 2005, employees will be paying out of pocket deductibles and have mandatory mail order prescriptions in an effort to save additional money. At the same time many of the unions have agreed to a wage freeze.

Looking at ways to reduce costs will continue to be top priority; promoting economic development opportunities to expand the tax base will continue to be top priority; and protecting the safety of our residents should always be top priority. But, the operation of County Government cannot come to a stand still, especially in law enforcement. Sometimes you must stand up for what is “right” not what is “politically popular”. It’s right to pass this tax and preserve safety and security. It’s time to stand up for law enforcement and the criminal justice support system.

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