BY DOUG OLESON
Contributing Writer

OREGON — The Ogle County Finance Committee is expected to draw up a proposal to borrow money from solid waste funds in order to balance the county budget when they meet at 1 p.m. on Wednesday in Oregon.
Exactly how much they need to borrow, for what is being called “a short term solution,” depends on several different factors.
Despite what one board member referred to as “nickels and dimes,” the county could be looking at a deficit of approximately $854,000.
During a special meeting of the county board last Thursday, finance committee chairman Greg Sparrow said the county is looking at a deficit of $376,000 from projected revenues of approximately $3.7 million against approximately $4.1 million in projected expenses. Depending on how things work out, the deficit could increase by an additional $288,000 from building projects and $190,000 in proposed salary increases not covered by union contracts.
Before Wednesday’s meeting, which is where board members expect to “discuss and refine” these figures, Sparrow is hoping the final figures can be trimmed down through negotiations.
“I want to get the numbers down as much as possible,” he said.
Of their limited options, Sparrow said the most logical is to borrow the money from the host fees generated by the county’s landfills. As he put it, there are “no new revenue funding opportunities for at least two years, until the new jail is expected to start operating in 2020.”

Solid waste manager Steve Rypkema expects the county to take in approximately $2.6 million in solid waste funds, approximately a million dollars less than in past years.
Sparrow said the first $409,000 will go toward the solid waste budget with the county borrowing what it needs for the budget and the remainder going into the county’s long-range planning fund which has financed a number of county buildings. The fund is also expected to help pay off some of the new jail, which is expected to cost between $22 and $28 million.
Although no official vote was taken last Thursday, Sparrow said he assumed from the comments of other board members, as well as the silence of others when asked to propose an alternative solution, that he has the board’s approval to go ahead with the borrowing proposal.
“I think this is imminently doable,” Sparrow said.
On Wednesday, the finance committee is expected to put together a specific proposal that will then be presented to the county board, which has the final say in whatever is done. The next county board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 17 on the third floor of the county courthouse in Oregon. The board has until the end of November to pass a budget which will take affect Dec. 1.
“It has to be a balanced budget,” board member Marty Typer said.
Sparrow said he still isn’t sure whether the proposal – once it’s finalized - will pass or not since some board members voiced their objection to borrowing the money, which they hope to pay back in two years. Still, he urged the board to consider trying it for a year, and if it doesn’t work, then they can “hand out pink slips.”

The one thing most board members agreed on is that they don’t want to see layoffs, which is another alternative. If borrowing funds is defeated and no other solution is proposed, Sparrow said 25 to 30 employees might have to be laid off.

Board member Pat Saunders suggested the committee go back to the department heads to see about making more cuts to their budgets. “I think, if given a choice, they would rather keep devoted staff rather than office equipment,” she said.

A possible long-term solution that was also discussed was not replacing those who retire. A three-month staffing study will be conducted to see what impact that would have.

It was pointed out that salaries make up about 80 percent of the county’s budget.

Due to several contributing factors, such as less financial support from the state, Ogle County’s revenues are done from previous years. Sparrow noted that surrounding counties in the state are experiencing the same situation.

“This isn’t new,” board member Richard Gronewold said of the county’s financial situation. “This is something that has been coming on for years.”

“if the funds aren’t there, we can’t spend them,” board member Skip Kenney said, adding that the county board has to change its way of thinking when it comes to finances..