Money matters county's top issue

By STEVE SCHLATHER, News-Sun Staff Writer

County officials hope 2004 will be a year to make strides in economic development while keeping a tight rein on spending.

County Commissioners Roger Tackett and John Detrick cited economic development as their top goal in the new year, while saying that keeping the budget under control is next. County Commissioner James Sheehan and County Administrator Darrell Howard cited the budget as No. 1 and economic development a close second.

“One of the most important things in Clark County in the near term is jobs and job development,” Tackett said. “There's a lot of people who need work.”

The county officials pointed to several areas as prime spots for industrial and commercial development: state Route 235 near Park Layne, PrimeOhio Corporate Park and the proposed Park I-675 at Interstate 675 and state Route 444. In each case, the county is working on infrastructure improvements to help further development.

Plans are in the works for a new water tower and water line extension that will serve Park I-675 and the Holiday Valley and Hunters Glen subdivisions. The county also is planning for a sewer line extension to serve Tecumseh schools and Donnellsville, as well as expansion and improvements for the Southwest Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant.

In 2003, the county purchased rights-of-way for the $13 million Southern Interceptor Sewer from Springfield's Wastewater Treatment Plant on Dayton Avenue to PrimeOhio. The city is funding the construction of the sewer, which is expected to be complete in December.

Detrick and Sheehan said economic development also depends on intangibles, especially the cooperation among key players: the Turner Foundation, city, county, Springfield-Clark County Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Rep. David Hobson. Detrick cited the effort to court LexisNexis, which plans to build a data and research center that could employ up to 80 people.

“The LexisNexis project was brought about by this unity of effort,” Detrick said. “It takes all the parties being willing to come together to create jobs.”

The county will continue to face challenging budget circumstances in 2004, with interest revenues continuing to decline and all other revenues flat. Interest earnings have fallen from $3.1 million in 2001 to an expected $1.2 million in 2003. Projections for 2004 call for about $825,000.

The budget situation forced the county's departments to pare spending by 2 percent across the board in their 2004 budgets. Howard said final numbers aren't in, but employees are not expected to receive any pay increase. In addition, employees must choose between paying a share of their health care premiums or having a small reduction in benefits.

“2004 is going to continue to be a strong budgetary challenge,” Howard said.

Sheehan said the county should continue to handle the budget shortfall by using reserve funds built up in past years, streamlining costs and not filling open positions. The county should not have to lay off employees, he said.

“We’re in a lot better shape than some counties,” Sheehan said.

County officials identified other priorities for 2004, including:

—The Clark County Juvenile Detention Center will undergo a $4.5 million expansion and renovation to expand available beds from 36 to 48. State and federal funds will pay for all but $1.7 million of the cost.

During the renovation, juvenile inmates will be housed in the temporary living quarters used to house jail inmates during the replacement of the jail’s heating-cooling system. The project is designed to bring the center up to national standards for juvenile facilities and to relieve overcrowding.

—The Ohio Equine and Agriculture Association is expected to complete exterior work by May for an exposition center to attract horse and livestock shows, as well as nonagricultural events. The nonprofit association will manage the center, but all profits will go to the Fair Board, which will control scheduling of events.

—The Board of Elections is overseeing a transition to electronic voting machines required by federal law. The board has chosen to use touch-screen technology produced by Sequoia Voting Systems. The federal government is expected to pay the $2 million cost of buying the machines and training workers, but the county may incur incidental costs, such as storage.