WAYNE ALLEN

PDT Staff Writer

The Scioto County Commissioners received positive budgetary news on Thursday, with permissive sales tax revenue $300,000 above their initial estimates for the first five months of the year. The commissioners reported they received $842,398.41 in permissive sales tax in May of 2012, representing an increase of $114,000 over May 2011, which came in at $728,405.

“This is the biggest jump we’ve had from one month to another,” said Skip Riffe, chairman of the Scioto County Commissioners. “We are extremely happy with these numbers, needless to say.”

He said the increased funding will be put into the county General Fund.

According to tax records, the county earned $10,252,517 in permissive sales tax for 2011, $395,517 over original estimates.

In August of 2009 the county was placed on fiscal emergency status by the auditor of state. Riffe said that status could be lifted from the county as soon as next year. He said the steps to having the status lifted includes retiring the $557,000 deficit associated with the former juvenile detention center.

“We are hoping to do that (retire the debt) this year. If revenue continues to come in like it is, we think we can get that done this year,” Riffe said. “After that, we have to do (20)14, (20)15 and (20)16 budget projections. Once the state is satisfied with those numbers, they’ll release us.”

Riffe said the budgets for 2012 and 2013 are complete.

“Once the (20)13 recovery plan gets approved, and we are hoping that happens at the August meeting of the Scioto County Financial Planing and Recovery Commission meeting. We will start planing for ‘14, ‘15 and ‘16,” Riffe said.

He said all of this depends on how long it takes the state to be satisfied with projected budget numbers and a number of other factors.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.