Budget panel mulling
health agency charges
The Portage County Budget Commission is reviewing the issue of chargebacks to townships and villages to cover any 2009 budget deficit by the county health department.
Recently, Health Commissioner DuWayne Porter said the department needs at least $163,000 to avoid layoffs next year that will put it below minimum state standards.
At a $163,000 deficit, chargebacks could range from a high of $22,430 for Brimfield Township to a low of $803 for Brady Lake.
If the deficit is cut to $100,000, chargebacks would range from $13,458 for Brimfield to $482 for Brady Lake.
The health department's finances have suffered as development has slowed and the general economy has worsened.
Funds from the health department's only levy, which makes up 19 percent of the budget, is expected to decrease $68,000 from 2007 to 2009.
The amounts of potential chargebacks are less than 1 percent of the township and village budgets -- in some cases "substantially less," said County Treasurer Steve Shanafelt.
Hospital's foundation
tops its $3 million goal
The Robinson Memorial Hospital Foundation exceeded its $3 million Robinson Tomorrow Campaign goal by raising $3.06 million by Dec. 31, 2007.
Nearly 1,000 individuals, businesses, organizations and foundations in the Greater Portage County region supported the first major fundraising campaign.
Helping the foundation reach its goal were employees of Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna and Robinson Health Affiliates, who pledged more than $45,000 at year's end, brining their total contributions to $235,113.
Since the inception of the campaign in 2003, nearly 400 Robinson employees have donated.
Other major supporters were 29 foundation trustees who established the campaign and worked closely on the fundraising efforts.
Members of the RMH medical staff also supported the effort, as did 100 businesses in Portage County and Northeast Ohio.
Local aid sought with
humane officer funds
The Portage Animal Protective League is hoping local governments will help pick up some of the tab for the services of a humane officer.
County commissioners have invited representatives of the county's cities and villages to a May 1 meeting to talk about how they might take some of the financial load off the private non-profit group.
The county pays $1,300 per year for the countywide officer. Last year, the humane officer function cost the APL $117,000, according to APL Executive Director Sheila Vandergriff.
She noted some recent very expensive animal abuse cases brought the issue to a head -- particularly more than 20 abused horses in Brimfield and 30 abandoned cats and dogs in Deerfield.
The humane officer responds to calls about injured dogs and investigates alleged animal abuse.
Diesel prices wreaking
havoc on bus agency
Motorists aren't the only ones feeling the crunch with higher costs at the pump.
As the price of gasoline rises, more people are relying on public transportation. But the cost of diesel fuel for Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority's 69-bus fleet has skyrocketed.
PARTA spent $268,546 in 2004 for diesel fuel. In 2007, that number nearly tripled to $714,000 ($3.85 per gallon for diesel fuel currently).
Since 2004, PARTA belonged to a consortium of regional transportation entities. But because of extremely high quotes the group disbanded at the end of 2007 to purchase diesel fuel through the state.
John Drew, general manager of PARTA, said although the high prices are difficult to cope with, there will be no cuts in service in Portage County.