Some groups may be happy with the short-term budget forecast as the Mower County Finance Committee recommended reinstating funding to some programs. However, the budget forecast for the next few years may not be as positive.

Mower County may not have an official budget, but some area groups may like the news of what was put back into the budget during a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday.

In September, the finance committee recommended significant cuts to certain groups. The board reviewed the changes and is recommending some funding be reinstated.

When the finance committee looked at the budget this year, they had several goals, County Coordinator Craig Oscarson said. They understood that the state of the economy was tough. We understand that impact on the public is tough on all of you people, including all of us. Were all in the same boat.

Despite the additions to the budget, the levy increase is still going to be 1.5 percent or less. The board can no longer adopt a levy increase of more than 1.5 percent.

The board could have adopted the budget and levy at the meeting last night. However, they chose to review the budget and approve it at the next regular meeting Dec. 15.

Reinstated

The board is recommending that Children in Need of Protective Services (CHIPS) funding be reinstated with $20,000 in the budget for 2010. The original cut hinged on CHIPS being a state funded service; however, a recent court hearing confirmed that its now mandated that counties fund CHIPS.

Funding for the Siebel Visitation Center had been cut, but the board recommended $10,000 be reinstated into the 2010 budget.

Renewing the visitation center’s contract was comparably priced to paying for social workers. However, Oscarson said that option could require hiring more staff.

The board is going to work with staff to reduce the contract cost in 2010, but such reductions are more likely in future years, Oscarson said.

The board is also recommending that $10,000 be reinstated to fund the Crisis Nursery. But, funding will include a message that such funding would be cut starting in 2011.

This funding is used as a match for a state grant, Oscarson said. Without the funding, the program wouldn’t be possible.

The committee also reinstated $4,000 in the 2010 budget for a Family Based Services contract with the Parenting Resource Center, a group that provides parenting education classes.

Human services and social workers will review more cost effective ways to provide this service in the future.

Still cut

The fair board and the Development Corporation of Austin both lobbied the board recently for to reinstate funding, but the board still plans to cut funding to the two programs for 2010.

That doesn’t mean those are not important services, Oscarson said. That means when you look at all the county services in a priority ranking, those are near the bottom.

The DCA requested $20,000 and the fair board requested $15,000, but both organizations will receive no funding in 2010.

We will be a partner in projects, but not a partner in ongoing operational funding, Oscarson said of the DCA.

Why cut here?

Many cuts target certain services because as much as 75 to 80 percent of programs are state mandated and can’t be cut.

With decreases in state funding, it becomes more difficult to provide mandated funding and other funding sought after in the county.

The overall problem in the state may not be fueled by state spending, but with personal spending and revenue.

When the state looks at their budget, you’ll hear some people say, We have a spending problem, Oscarson said. What it really is the state has a revenue problem.

People are buying fewer goods and services, and more people are unemployed, which decreases income taxes.

Two potential solutions for the problem include reducing state spending or increasing taxes like income taxes.

When it affects us, what are we going to do about it? Oscarson said.

Despite the budget issues in 2010, Oscarson said the county is planning for 2011 and 2012 to be worse.

Some people predict the state budget shortfall to climb past 6 billion in the next few years. That could affect the counties because many services are mandated by the state, Oscarson said.

Income tax revenue is not expected to improve until 2013, Oscarson said.

We’re concerned more so about 2011 and 2012 than 2010, Oscarson said. We think we can handle most of our services in 2010 without greatly affecting all of you, but our concern is really how devastating 2011 and 2012 will be.