The Greene County Board of Supervisors met yesterday.
The Board appointed Emergency Management Coordinator Dennis Morlan to the Region V Hazardous Materials Response Commission, the Region V Local Emergency Planning Commission and the Region V Foundation Board.
The Board also approved the County Recorder’s report of fees for January of $4,914.40.
During the budget workshop, discussion took place about prioritizing funds for courthouse projects. The Board preliminarily decided to hold off on installing a new heating and cooling system and new windows until they took care of the stain glass dome in the rotunda. The outside covering of the dome has been leaking and the Board felt that they needed to repair that before they repair the dome itself. Auditor Jane Heun said she put $40,000 into a line item for courthouse projects. It was mentioned that the Board could apply for a grant from Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation for a “wow” project to repair the dome. The estimated cost for the repairs is $175,000.
Next, the Board discussed purchasing a new ambulance for Greene County Emergency Medical Services. On Monday, Morlan told the Board that all three vehicles are working fine, but it might not be a bad idea to plan to purchase a new one in the future. The estimated cost for a new ambulance was $120,000. The Board decided to save $60,000 in the 2015/16 fiscal year budget and another $60,000 in the 2016/17 budget. The first $60,000 would be split in half with $30,000 from the general fund and $30,000 from the Local Option Sales and Services Tax (LOSST).
With the slight change in the fund balances expected for a new ambulance, the Board considered changing the tax levy. The rural tax levy is at $3.15 per $1,000 valuation and the Board wanted to know how much money would be generated if they didn’t change the rural tax levy or if they lowered it to $3.10. Since 2011, the rural tax levy has been steadily dropping from $3.95 to $3.15. Last fiscal year, the comprehensive tax levy (urban included) generated $5 million and this fiscal year, it generated $4.9 million. The Board tabled its decision until they saw the calculations for each option.