If a downbeat financial outlook holds up, Stark County could be faced with as much as $20 million in cutbacks by 2012. That's the picture being painted for county commissioners by administrator Mike Hanke, who is expected to present a 2010 budget proposal to the board next week.
Commissioner Steven Meeks says it's time that all departments in the county tighten their belt to adjust to the tough times. Meeks says commissioners asked all department heads to cut their 2010 funding requests by 3.5% based on their previous year's allotment. Some departments met that request, while others did not.
Sales tax revenues may fall well below the $21 million the county expects to collect this year. Not counting the .5% sales tax that's set to be repealed on April 1, Hanke says January and February tax revenues were down from a year ago. If that trend keeps up in 2010, commissioners may be forced to draw from a $5 million rainy day fund.
Another potential obstacle for the budget is whether voters will support a renewal of an existing .25% sales tax that's scheduled to expire next year.
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