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Task force suggests fundamental changes to Montgomery County finances

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By Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer 11:42 PM Tuesday, December 1, 2009

DAYTON — A financial planning task force is recommending fundamental changes in the way Montgomery County does business, according to a plan unveiled Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the county commission meeting.

The five-year financial planning committee, made up 46 leaders in the business, health care, educational, nonprofit and government sectors, spent 18 months reviewing county finances with the help of the Indiana University Center for Urban Policy and the Environment.

Co-chair Franz Hoge said the task force sought ways for the county to cope with declining revenues. At the end of 2010, the county will have about $44 million less in annual general fund revenues than it had in 2001, he said.

The county has been in budget-cutting mode since 2001, but with revenues damaged further by the recession, Hoge said the county now faces “structural transformation.” Some of those changes will require changes in state law, including reforming employee compensation and benefits such as retirement, reducing inefficient mandates, and providing corporate tax relief, said co-chair Bev Shillito.

The task force emphasized that the county cannot cut its way to prosperity and recommended a $5 million annual allocation for economic development and continued support for the arts and culture with a $500,000 annual allocation.

“Without economic development our problems will continue to be dire,” Hoge said.

Among the recommendations:

• Hire accountants to determine the true cost of services provided by the clerk of courts, Miami Valley Regional Crime Lab and sheriff’s office and charge jurisdictions the full cost of those services. Change state laws limiting fees charged by county offices.

• Hire a chief information officer to manage the “extremely fragmented and inefficient” data processing operation.

• Continue managing the jail population, including alternative sentencing.

• Explore options to further collaborate and consolidate the sheriff’s and police departments, including records and property room functions.

• Consolidate the two county courts and look at incorporating all municipal courts into a single countywide court.

• Review and consider ending subsidies for nonmandated services such as the Agricultural Society, Cooperative Extension Service, the Joint Office of Citizen Complaints, Soil and Water Conservation District and the 800MHz radio system.

• Analyze staffing and compensation and compare with the private sector.

• Consider outsourcing administrative support services such as custodial, data processing, building and vehicle maintenance and records management.

• Reduce administrative redundancy and improve the “antiquated” payroll system.

The full report is under “reports” on the county’s Web site at mcohio.org.

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