Monday, June 29, 2009

Dire financial situation in Darke County government

A drop in sales tax revenues - and reduction in state funds - has caused an emergency financial situation in the local county government. Multiple sources are indicating that county offices are being asked to reduce hours.

But the cuts so far have not been enough. On the table are all of the following: reduced hours for county employees, a 4-day work week, and employee terminations. The situation is especially intense in the courthouse where employees are waiting to see what happens next. Some action is expected this week.

Stay tuned.

7 comments:

  1. This has been a building problem in the county for a while. The county is IN DEBT! Poor financial decisions by those running the county several years ago have severaly crippled the capabilities of the county to operate in this recession. The problem is that so few people know about these issues! Why? BECAUSE THE ADVOCATE WASN'T CONCERNED! Bob Robinson talks about being a "fiscal watchdog" and the like, but he sure didn't seem to find it fit to go after the county for spending outside its means when he was editor for the Advocate. Just another reason this man has no business being commissioner.

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  2. The last comment was allowed because it is an opinion, but I don't know if the opinion is necessarily correct. Robinson wrote as lot about governmental spending as I recall.

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  3. Perhaps the watchdogs of County tax dollars have managed the people's money in the same ways they have managed their own.

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  4. This is a result of foolish spending like remodeling the court house while people struggle to pay there property tax.Have the people that run the county not took a ride and seen the number of houses setting empty in this county.and why is an outside company doing the addition to the hospital instead of a local company with local workers?

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  5. Just think, 30 days ago the Commission Board was going full steam ahead on a 7-8 million dollar courts facility. Can anyone explain how you can go from creating the eighth wonder of the world to worrying about keeping the lights on in a months time?

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  6. While I do agree that this the spending may not always be in check. Remember, some things the Commission Board cannot control one of which is the courts facility. I agree not a good time for this but the Judges of our county have court ordered this.

    Look around us, every county has been affected financially so it was just a matter of time. It's just unfortunate that it's an "all of the sudden" situation. I'm not sure I understand how this was not seen a long time ago...

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  7. To Anonymous-07/01/09-4:33 PM

    Better check your facts. There has been no court order. This decision was not made under duress!

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