2011 Republican accomplishments… jobs and balancing budgets by Bob Robinson Darke County Ohio

Elected representatives talked about the accomplishments of 2011 and the goals for 2012.

2011 Republican accomplishments… jobs and balancing budgets

2012 Challenge… Elect Republicans

By Bob Robinson

The top state accomplishments of 2011 were jobs and balancing the budget off of an $8 billion deficit. The top accomplishments of Darke County were jobs and a balanced budget with decreased funding. The top accomplishments of the City of Greenville were jobs – retention and new – and balancing the budget on reduced funding.

Nine elected representatives talked about the accomplishments of 2011 and plans for 2012 with members and guests at the Darke County Republican Mens Club Saturday.

State Senator Bill Beagle and State Representatives Jim Buchy and Dick Adams noted, among other things, balancing the budget, getting bi-partisan approval of a new districting plan and seeing job growth in Ohio.

Buchy said he stayed “under the radar” on Issue 2 (and got the appropriate laughs from the group) but added that there might be positives coming from it. The local union leader for one of the state’s largest teachers unions is now meeting with him to work out ways to improve efficiency and quality in that school system.

Adams said the governor (Gov. John Kasich) wants him to work on solving the Medicaid issue, noting that there won’t be any money for his (Adams’) 2011 Agriculture and Education Committee assignments if this doesn’t get done.

“Medicaid takes 39 cents for every dollar,” he said. “It now exceeds the cost of all combined education levels (secondary and college) of 36 cents on the dollar.”

Darke County Commissioners Diane Delaplane and Mike Stegall, Clerk of Courts Cindy Pike, Prosecutor Kelly Ormsby and Juvenile Probate Judge Jason Aslinger, noted among other things cooperating among all county officials to balance the budget with decreased funding from the state, economic development and new programs in place in the judicial system.

Delaplane said that a slight increase in income tax revenue has helped, and the county has an improved bond rating thanks to its fiscal responsibility, while Stegall said Darke County is a “bright spot” of economic development in the state.

Pike said that with a recent computer upgrade, the Common Pleas docket is being scanned and is now available online at: darkecourts.com.

Ormsby said changes are being made to deal with overcrowding in state prisons and the lack of space in the Darke County Jail.

“Thanks to a grant obtained by Judge (Jon) Hein, we have the ability to put many offenders under house arrest rather than incarcerating them,” he said.

Aslinger told the group he decreased his budget by not replacing a retiring employee, along with other cost cutting measures. He also noted he’s working on Drug and Mental Health courts as attempts to intervene before the individual reaches the point where he or she has to be incarcerated.

Greenville City Auditor Nancy Myers told the group that the city is looking at a variety of ways to deal with decreasing budget dollars, one of which includes a consolidation of the Utilities office with the Income Tax office. She also noted that she worked with Greenville Schools Assistant Superintendent Jon McGreevy to obtain a grant for improvements to Memorial Hall.

Among the challenges the city faces are needed infrastructure improvements, such as sidewalks and road repair.

Myers also talked about jobs created and saved in the city, a topic Greenville Mayor Mike Bowers had addressed at the November Republican Mens Club meeting.

Bowers was unable to attend the meeting Saturday but in November discussed extensively the efforts of Economic Director Marc Saluk and his office in economic development. Both Bowers and Myers noted Ramco Motors, Integrity Ambulance, Jafe Decorating, Continental Carbonic and more as 2011 success stories.

“No one knows how close we were to losing Ramco,” Myers said. “Not only the jobs that would have been lost but the building that would have been left empty if they hadn’t stayed.”

Bowers had focused on changing the perception of Greenville from “not business friendly” to one of cooperation with current businesses and making it easier for businesses to come to the city, start up or grow jobs.

Several officials applauded the efforts of Salek in making these successes possible.

Adams talked about the "rift" between Kasich and Ohio Republican Committee Chair Kevin DeWine, noting that there is considerable precedent for an Ohio governor wanting to replace the current chair with one of his own choosing.

While all officials discussed the challenges ahead for 2012, they indicated they were addressing them and expressed confidence they would be successful in handling them.

The biggest challenge noted by all? Elect Republicans! Especially in the 2012 Presidential race.

The Darke County Republican Mens Club has had a successful year of membership growth and participation with more than 60 members. New officers were elected: Hershel Fee, President; Gary Young, First Vice President; Ryan Busher, Second Vice President; and Ken Wombold, Secretary-Treasurer. Immediate Past President is Bob Robinson.

Speaker invitees for the January meeting will be Delaplane, Stegall and Mike Rhoades to talk about the challenges coming in 2012. In February, contestants for the Republican Primary in March will be asked to make presentations.