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Lakemore, Ohio —
The Lakemore Financial Planning and Supervision Commission learned the news that spending through October had reached 91.5 percent of the year's appropriations. At 10 months, the year's budget spending should be at 83 percent.
This raises concerns as many cuts have been made and spending has been at a minimum.
Trish Turner, with the Ohio Auditors office said, “We will be looking at what the village is spending for the rest of the year and make sure that the only expenditures coming out of the general fund are the essential expenditures.”
Council President and Commission member Rick Justice questioned how spending could be that out of balance when so many cuts have been made? About three percent was due to transfers to other funds. The rest had to do with over spending according to the financial supervisors. Justice used the example of legal counsel where the spending was cut more than $400 a month. “How can it be more than 90 percent at this point with a cut like that?”
Turner said they will monitor the spending so this will not happen again next year.
“Seeing that the area of personal services is at 100 percent, I become concerned. You have people in there with a set budget and they should be aware of staying in that budget,” Commission Administrator, Sharon Hanrahan said.
Hanrahan said they were wondering why the percentages were off. “We need to sit down and go through them with a fine tooth comb. It is a lame duck period and I would like to see the financial supervisors watch over this month to month,” she said.
Turner assured the commission they were going to get more detailed. Rick Quay, Fiscal Officer said he has put a list together of items coming out of the general fund the rest of the year that will help.
Justice said the failing of the quarter percent tax levy will cause some issues. “We had a plan B in place and, if the commission approves, I think we are going to have to put some of that into place,” said Justice. The plan includes more cuts in several areas. “We had a situation in our (Department of Public Safety) that created some cuts and I think we can take a creative look at that and maybe not have to make cuts in DOPS or the Fire Department,” he said.
Hanrahan would like the village to take plan B and make it into a revised recovery plan. “Your Plan B has to be a little more flushed out than it had been in the former plan,” she said.
They agreed to have the plan spelled out by February.
Justice said they are working on the grant for Edwin Shaw and it is moving along nicely.
“The plaza is still showing some potential for new business.” he said.
As suggested at the last meeting the Village is looking at the trash contract to see if money can be saved.
“Driving by the high school is very encouraging and we will have some income from there. It is a positive for the whole community,” Justice said.
The next commission meetings will be Jan. 25, 2012 and Feb. 29 at 10 a.m.
The Lakemore Financial Planning and Supervision Commission learned the news that spending through October had reached 91.5 percent of the year's appropriations. At 10 months, the year's budget spending should be at 83 percent.
This raises concerns as many cuts have been made and spending has been at a minimum.
Trish Turner, with the Ohio Auditors office said, “We will be looking at what the village is spending for the rest of the year and make sure that the only expenditures coming out of the general fund are the essential expenditures.”
Council President and Commission member Rick Justice questioned how spending could be that out of balance when so many cuts have been made? About three percent was due to transfers to other funds. The rest had to do with over spending according to the financial supervisors. Justice used the example of legal counsel where the spending was cut more than $400 a month. “How can it be more than 90 percent at this point with a cut like that?”
Turner said they will monitor the spending so this will not happen again next year.
“Seeing that the area of personal services is at 100 percent, I become concerned. You have people in there with a set budget and they should be aware of staying in that budget,” Commission Administrator, Sharon Hanrahan said.
Hanrahan said they were wondering why the percentages were off. “We need to sit down and go through them with a fine tooth comb. It is a lame duck period and I would like to see the financial supervisors watch over this month to month,” she said.
Turner assured the commission they were going to get more detailed. Rick Quay, Fiscal Officer said he has put a list together of items coming out of the general fund the rest of the year that will help.
Justice said the failing of the quarter percent tax levy will cause some issues. “We had a plan B in place and, if the commission approves, I think we are going to have to put some of that into place,” said Justice. The plan includes more cuts in several areas. “We had a situation in our (Department of Public Safety) that created some cuts and I think we can take a creative look at that and maybe not have to make cuts in DOPS or the Fire Department,” he said.
Hanrahan would like the village to take plan B and make it into a revised recovery plan. “Your Plan B has to be a little more flushed out than it had been in the former plan,” she said.
They agreed to have the plan spelled out by February.
Justice said they are working on the grant for Edwin Shaw and it is moving along nicely.
“The plaza is still showing some potential for new business.” he said.
As suggested at the last meeting the Village is looking at the trash contract to see if money can be saved.
“Driving by the high school is very encouraging and we will have some income from there. It is a positive for the whole community,” Justice said.
The next commission meetings will be Jan. 25, 2012 and Feb. 29 at 10 a.m.
