EATON — Preble County Children Services is facing a deficit for June and July — a deficit which might follow them into 2019. During a Preble County Commission meeting on Monday, July 2, Clerk Connie Crowell read a letter she had received from Job and Family Services Director Becky Sorrell. In the letter, Sorrell asked the commissioners to transfer $100,000 to the Children Services Fund, but according to Crowell, the money was not budgeted.
Crowell asked the commissioners if Sorrell mentioned her request for additional funds when they last saw her. They responded she had. Crowell then read the request to the board.
“Preble County Children Services is facing a deficit in funding,” Crowell read. “We’re anticipating a deficit of $27,000 at the end of June and $116,000 at the end of July. In August, I expect to receive $325,000 in tax levy money. This will catch things up for awhile, but with the current spending models I fear there will be a deficit again in November and by the end of December we will be approximately $170,000 in the negative.
“This leaves nothing to carry purchase orders over into 2019 to pay the December bills. Part of the reason for the deficit is the reimbursement check we received in June was short $16,000. This is being investigated and will hopefully be resolved when we receive our check in July. Our placement costs are also hired then I estimated.”
Sorrell’s letter continued, “When we submitted the 2018 budget, we requested $200,000 from the general fund. We have not asked for these funds until now. I would like to request $100,000 from general fund be transferred to Children Services to help cover this deficit. We will closely monitor the account and notify you as to when or if we need additional funding.”
When she was finished reading Sorrell’s letter, Crowell added, “I don’t think we budgeted that, because of the levy that was passed. I think we knew it was going to be close, because they almost used all the levy money then.”
“Is this a timing issue or are they just out of money?” Commissioner Chris Day asked.
Commissioner Denise Robertson answered, “It sounds like both.”
“I would have to look,” Crowell said. “This letter came in last Monday. I will look and see what is going on and I will have something for you on [Monday, July 9].”
In other news, the board signed a professional service agreement with the Preble County Arts Association in the amount of $9,283 for felony subsidy.
“This is that program that the courts have been working on for several years, for troubled teens,” Day said.
“It’s a really good program,” Robertson added.
The Board of Commissioners meet every Monday and Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the Preble County Courthouse Commission Chambers. These meetings are open to the public.
