By Megan Alley
Sun staff

The Clermont County Commissioners voted on Nov. 18 to approve the county’s general fund budget for 2016.

During their regular meeting, the commissioners approved the $53.2 million budget, an increase over 2015’s $50.9 million budget.

The general fund, which is the largest discretionary source of funds in the county, finances 20 of the 21 elected offices, according to a press release. The engineer’s office is funded through state gasoline taxes and driver license fees.

The commissioners outlined some priorities for the 2016 budget, which include: restoration of two sheriff deputy positions, restoration of a building inspector position, a full year of funding for 50 new beds added in 2015 at the county jail and salary increases for county employees averaging 2.85 percent, according to a press release.

“Departments are happy with what we were able to do going into next year,” said Sukie Scheetz, Clermont County Office of Management and Budget director.

Commissioner Bob Proud asked if the 2016 budget adheres to the county’s fiscal principles of not appropriating any more than what the previous revenues were.

“We consider this one balanced, because we looked at what we believe 2015 operating revenues will be, and we held 2016’s appropriation to that level. So, it’s in our world considered balanced,” Scheetz said.

She added, “It allows us to take any of the current year’s revenue growth and put that back into our reserves.”

Sales tax, which has continued to increase, now provides almost 50 percent of the general fund revenue, according to Scheetz.

“Sales tax this year, compared to where we were in 2007, which was our last peak year, is way up,” she said. “It’s replacing every other source of revenue that has fallen and not recovered, with interest being the biggest one that we haven’t seen recovery on.”

Scheetz recommended that the reserves be changed from 25 percent to 33 percent, enough to cover four months of operating expenses, in case something happens to the county that is unforeseen and dramatic.

“With the fact that our operating revenues are now so dependent on a volatile stream of revenues, which is sales tax, it’s prudent to increase our reserve a little bit,” she said.

Commissioner David Uible asked what percentage the sales tax was at before.

“It was in the 40s” Scheetz responded. “It’s become a bigger percent as some of the other revenues are tapering off.”

Scheetz said that based on the economy, sales tax is more of an unknown.

“It took one of the hits when the economy started impacting us in 2009; we saw it in sales tax,” she said.

Proud said that is why the county emphasizes that people shop locally, especially during the holiday season.