By Patricia Breakey
Delhi News Bureau
DELHI _ Following a brief
public hearing Wednesday, the
Delaware County Board of Supervisors
adopted a 2010 budget
with a 1.5 percent tax levy
increase.
Colchester Supervisor Bob
Homovich, the county budget
director, said an increase in
the workmen’s compensation
appropriation resulted in the
slight increase from the expected
levy increase of 1.43
percent.
Hamden Supervisor Wayne
Marshfield, who serves on the
Budget Committee, said the
county is in the midst of the
“most challenging times and financial
circumstances” he has
experienced in 26 years of public
service.
Marshfield said the recession
has been shrinking the county’s
major revenue sources.
“Delaware County will see a
$200,000 reduction in mortgage
tax revenue, a $2.2 million in
sales tax revenue, a $200,000
reduction in interest and earnings,
a $150,000 reduction in
interest and penalties and a
reduction of $125,000 in boarding-
in of prisoners,” Marshfield
said.
He said as revenues have decreased,
service demands are
on the increase. He said that as
of Oct. 31, 10,275 people are receiving
some sort of Social Services
assistance.
“Certain appropriations
have skyrocketed to levels
we have never seen before,”
Marshfield added. “Projected
2010 employee retirement and
health-insurance premiums
are expected to increase by
$1.8 million. We have increased
our aid to indigents by $200,000
to a level of almost $600,000 for
2010.”
The county has a salary
freeze in place. Marshfield said
if a 3 percent increase is given
next year it would increase the
county budget by almost $1 million.
“I look at 2010 as being a
challenge, but I am sure that
2011 will be worse,” Marshfield
said. “Our residents have
called on us to hold the line on
property taxes, and with everyone’s
undivided help, this is a
mission accomplished, at least
for now.”
During the public hearing,
Delaware County American
Legion Commander Milton
Scherer of Franklin asked that
the veterans’ service agency
officer position be restored to
full time.
Following the retirement of
Robert Johnson, the job was reduced
to part time.
Homovich said he talked to
the American Legion representatives
and has agreed that the
position will be monitored. If it
doesn’t work on a part-time basis,
it will be adjusted.
“We will make sure the veterans
get the services they deserve,”
Homovich said.
Board Chairman James Eisel
said he was pleased the Budget
Oversight Committee was able
to bring the budget in at a 1.5
percent levy increase.
Eisel said the slight sales tax
increase in the last quarter
was a hopeful sign that “things
are beginning to turn around.
Maybe we will have a better
year in 2010.”
