Coroner, jail among Richland departments expected to overspend budgets

While the Richland County Voter Registration and Elections office drew much debate over its recent request for an extra $1 million this budget year, at least three other county departments are on track to overspend their budgets as well.

The Richland County Coroner, Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center and Council Services are asking County Council for a total of more than $1.5 million to be added to their budgets through the end of June to avoid running deficits.

The coroner’s office is requesting an extra $600,000, which includes $250,000 to go toward autopsies. The coroner originally was granted $1.6 million in this year’s budget, which took effect July 1.

The detention center is requesting $820,000 to cover water and sewer costs, salaries and professional services, which include food services, polygraphs and medical services. The jail originally was given $22 million in the county’s budget.

Council Services, with three staff members who support council by distributing information, preparing meeting minutes, maintaining the council calendar and scheduling appointments, is expected to be at least $108,000 over its budget for personnel. The department was funded at almost $622,000, including council members’ salaries, in the county’s budget.

Additional funding for these departments would have to come from the county’s general savings account. However, if other county departments end the year with unspent money in their budgets, the savings could be replenished, said Daniel Driggers, the county’s chief financial officer.

Alvin S. Glenn director Ronaldo Myers told a council committee Tuesday that the detention center is on track to run a deficit for several reasons, including the fact that it was not funded at the original amount requested at the beginning of the budget year.

Complications from the October flood also caused the Bluff Road detention center’s water and sewer costs to go up. And the move approved by council to staff magistrate court 24-hours at the jail also has caused costs to rise, Myers said.

“We’ve taken what we can out of our operational expenses” to try to make up some of the deficit, Myers told council members.

Earlier this month, County Council denied the Voter Registration and Elections office’s request for an additional $1 million to avoid a deficit when the financial year ends June 30. That office also was funded below its original budget request by more than $1 million.

Councilwoman Joyce Dickerson expressed concern Tuesday about the late-year budget requests when the county’s finances already are tight, she said.

“This cow is about to run dry. We’re down to the bare bones,” Dickerson said.

The full council will vote at its next meeting, May 3, whether to approve the funding requests.

This story was originally published April 26, 2016 at 8:21 PM with the headline "Coroner, jail among Richland departments expected to overspend budgets."