The Darke County T.E.A. Patriots, in addition to promoting general conservative values, has chosen to address two specific local issues: district school budgets and the Commissioners Office.
If you are interested in trying to bring our country’s leadership back to the values that have made the United States great, and addressing specific issues here at home, join us. We meet at 6 p.m. every other Tuesday at the Christian Lighthouse on St. Hwy. 127. Next meeting is June 8.
General Fund - Departments over which the county has direct control, or has to provide full or partial funding: $14,539,636
Departments and/or programs funded in full or in part by the General Fund: 46. This is misleading, as funding and direct supervision are two different things.
In addition to the Commissioners’ own budget, funding includes portions (or all) of the budgets of other elected representatives: Sheriff, Auditor, Treasurer, Prosecutor, Clerk of Courts, County Engineer, Coroner, Recorder, Common Pleas, Municipal, Juvenile & Probate.
All elected department heads are in control of how they spend their money, but their expenditures are overseen by the County Commissioners. The commissioners have programs that they control directly, such as their office, the County Home, County Farm, and so on, but most general fund expenditures are under the control of other elected officials.
It is a major misconception that Commissioners have more power than they really have. They are the only elected countywide body that can implement taxes and/or fees, and they are responsible for making sure vital county functions are provided. In funding these functions, Commissioners are sometimes caught between the demands of elected department heads and keeping the voters happy.
The only tax that Commissioners can levy is a sales tax. The county portion of the sales tax we pay on our purchases is 1 percent. This is the maximum allowed by law without voter approval. They can levy fees – such as the real estate transfer fee they implemented a few years ago – but not property or income taxes. All other taxes are state, federal or from other local jurisdictions, such as Townships, Cities, Villages and School Districts. Income and/or property taxes, as you well know, can be implemented by almost every public entity EXCEPT the Commissioners Office. Voters have to approve those taxes.
Total Appropriations - This includes all state and federal funds over which the Commissioners have fiscal responsibility: $58,224,707.
There are a large number of programs and/or services with funding from outside of the county; probably the most public of them is Job & Family Services. Not a lot of time was devoted to these entities because I thought Commissioner budgetary oversight was pretty much limited to approving fund transfers and expenditures… usually – though not necessarily always – rubber stamp.
They do, however, have responsibility for hiring and/or firing the program department heads. I continue to get information from individuals who talk about the things that I do not hear from our elected officials, but as always the information may or may not be 100 percent, or even partly, accurate. However, the Commissioners have more oversight power than I thought they did. I will continue to report on these issues as they are brought to my attention (and they can be verified).
Capitol Improvement Fund - Available balance just under $1 million. This is used for improving/refurbishing county structures and properties. As long as the expenditure is for long-term use (I understand it is 25 years or more), they can pretty much pick and choose how they want to spend it.
Most of you know that the buildings behind the courthouse are going to be torn down and replaced by a parking lot. In order to satisfy the strings of a state grant being used, it has to be gravel for six months, after which they can finish it when and if they so choose. They will likely use Capitol Improvement funds for that portion of the project.
A gravel parking lot, by the way, is in violation of Greenville City Ordinance.
Commissioners have recently stated publicly that this is the “first phase” of their long-term project. Since they have announced no change in their courthouse addition plans, I have to assume that this is the first phase toward implementation of that particular plan.
While some improvements to the courthouse have been announced – work planned in the basement, and the recent work done on the courthouse steps – no comprehensive refurbishment plan has been discussed or announced (to my knowledge).
Public Meetings - Tom Subler has attended a few public meetings. David Self has been attending them over the past couple of weeks. Our public officials need to be held accountable for their responsibilities. This can’t be done if you don’t know what they do. Knowledge is power. Tom and David can tell you how many people show up at these meetings. We need to pack the room every Monday and Wednesday.
Note that the “public” meetings referenced are the two above-mentioned regular meetings at 1:30 p.m. Ohio Sunshine Law says that any time two commissioners are in the same room together it is technically a public meeting and needs to be publicly advertised. While the commissioners believe they are in compliance with this law, the T.E.A. Patriots should consider asking them to expand their public awareness efforts and note their schedules at all times they are together (unless protected by executive session).
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