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Commissioners request input from the public - Jan. 3, 2011
We, the Board of Darke County Commissioners are facing a serious dilemma.
Back on December 20, 2010, in our Regular Agenda Session, Common Pleas
Court Judge Jonathan P. Hein, attended our meeting and spoke to
Commissioners Haworth, Delaplane & Rhoades, regarding his 2011
Appropriations that he submitted early in December, 2010, and he is
also speaking for the other Elected Officials that also feel the
increase was unfair to them. He stated that his
“Appropriations” that were submitted in early December, was flat-lined
per the recommendation of the Darke County Commission Board. He
is resubmitting his appropriations to us due to an increase in the
Darke County Sheriff’s Budget that we felt was a necessity for our
county, most importunately the Citizens of our County. Now today,
January 3, 2011, we the Board of Commissioners, consisting of Vice
Chairman Diane Delaplane, Member Michael W. Rhoades & Michael E.
Stegall, met with Common Pleas Judge Jonathan P. Hein, regarding his
request for an additional $57,000.00 to his Appropriations, which
includes the hiring of a new Probation Officer, and increasing his
employees salaries 2% percent.
Now, we the Board of Darke County Commissioners want to make this
Statement regarding the circumstances etc. behind our decision for the
increases to 2011 Sheriff’s Appropriations.
Back in February, 2010, we the Board of Commissioners, were approached
by several Police Departments in the county, that the drug situation in
Darke County is out of control. At that time, we discovered that
the “Workers Comp” line in all of the Elected Officials Budget etc. was
figured higher than what they actually was going to be. At that
time, there was an extra $80,000. that could be moved and used by the
Darke County Sheriff, to help support the hiring of the much needed
Officers. Also at that same time, shortly after that decision was
made, we found out from the Department of Taxation, for the State of
Ohio, that someone had paid double what they were supposed to be paying
for “sales tax”. Consequently, we are losing, from sales tax over
approx. $20,000. a month for the next year and beyond. Also,
stated in the meeting by the Judge, was he thought it was more
important to have road deputies than drug officers. It was also
brought to our attention that if we give the Sheriff this increase,
than the Public Defender wants an increase in their contract
line.
We, the Board of Commissioners, back in February, 2010, made the
decision to allow the Sheriff to put on two (2) Officers. At that
time, and at this time we still feel that was the right thing to
do. But do to the possibilities of an “Order” coming down, from
the Judge, and the increases wanted by the Public Defender, we cannot
afford all of this.
We have had discussions with the Sheriff and he has acknowledged he’ll
do whatever we request him to do, he will do. The Sheriff will
make the final decisions as to what will take place, if we reduce his
funds.
If anyone has any issues or concerns, or even suggestions, feel free to
call any of your “Elected Officials” in the County as to what you feel
needs to be done.
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