Harrison funding transfer stalled
By KAY SEDGMER, Times Leader Staff WriterCADIZ - A potential legal matter has put the skids on a request for a transfer of funds in Harrison County.
Department of Job and Family Services Director Scott Blackburn first approached the county commissioners to transfer $183,000 last week. On the advice of the county's prosecuting attorney the board put the matter on hold.
Wednesday, Blackburn once again asked the board to move the funds from the agency's staff salaries line item into other funds and Assistant Prosecutor Michael Washington again advised leaders against the move because the department is currently in negotiations with union workers.
"The transfer could possibly be considered an unfair labor practice," said Washington.
However, Blackburn presented county leaders with a breakdown of how the funds would be used, including $40,000 from social services salaries to cover costs such as maintenance on agency vehicles, trash pick-up, legal fees and cost allocation payments to the county.
He said another $45,000 would transfer from IM and shared salaries to the TANF Early Start account which is used to pay for contracted services provided through the county Help Me Grow Program. Blackburn said another $98,000 would come from the IM and shared salaries for contracts and purchased services which include for contracted services including Rural Transit, Child Care and Chore programs, the prosecutor's office, the Senior Center and other such programs.
In a handout, Blackburn noted his agency had used the contracts and purchased services line item to repay the state $228,000 in Fiscal Year 2006 closeout funds which were due by the end of June.
He also said the department believed expenditures in all accounts would be less in the second half of the year.
And, although plans called for negotiations to begin today (Thursday), Blackburn did not see the transfer as a problem but did believe the agency would face difficulties in paying bills if the transfers were further held up.
"We've go to do this to pay for services," he said. "We talked to [Auditor Patrick Moore] and he doesn't think it is a problem. He doesn't want us to do more appropriations."
Commission Chairman Mike Vinka questioned Washington and Blackburn if a partial transfer could be approved as a temporary fix but Washington nixed that idea saying the timing wasn't good. He also noted similar transfers had been done in the past while negotiations were pending.
"No matter what the rationale is, it's not the best time to do this," Washington said. "But it is up to them (the commissioners). This is a question the commissioners should have asked you before. It's tough for our office to say yeah, go ahead with this when you have a potential labor violation."
Blackburn said he thought the discussion may have been better held in executive session.
"It's out there now," he said.
After further discussion, commissioners tabled the matter and indicated they would be meeting with Blackburn, Washington and Prosecutor Shawn Hervey to make a decision.
In other business, the board approved three annual resolutions concerning bonds for mining along county roads 28 and 29 in Athens Township.
They also gave the ok to a $8,698 transfer into the EMT fund for other expenses.
Sedgmer may be reached a ksedgmer@timesleaderonline.com
