OTTAWA — County commissioners decided they’ll take a second look at budget requests from four outside agencies. Commission Chair Ed Taylor asked for the review Wednesday after he pondered the phrase “return on investment” uttered in an earlier budget session by Commissioner Steve Harris. The business term basically stands for “bang for the buck,” Taylor said, and he wondered about that when it came to the budget requests from Ottawa-Franklin County Economic Development, Franklin County Historical Society and Prairie Paws. County Clerk Shari Perry also suggested that commissioners could also look at the feasibility of keeping senior centers at each of the county’s communities maintained by the Franklin County Senior Citizens agency. The county can expect to get the best return from the money that’s given to OFCED, which attracts new businesses and industries to the area or encourages existing businesses to expand. Although Taylor has expressed some skepticism about the group’s request for an increase, Prairie Paws does help take unwanted pets off streets and roads, he said. However, Taylor said previous commissions have decided to reduce the historical society’s levy over the years and he’s inclined to continue cutting it. The return on investment doesn’t appear to be as good for the historical society as for other agencies, he said. Perry noted that it may be worth looking to see if it’s feasible to keep some of the senior centers open as much as they are. The lunch program, in which meals are delivered to the elderly in their homes, should still continue, she said. Taylor said because of tough economic times, the county needs to look at everything and differentiate between needs and wants However, commissioners have been more sympathetic to requests for more money by the Elizabeth Layton mental health center because of severe state cutback in Medicaid funding. For the most part, county departments haven’t asked for increases. Commissioners are also considering an invitation from the city of Ottawa to set up an “open house” on budgets which would allow citizens to talk directly to department heads individually about their budgets and services.
Thursday, June 30, 9 a.m.
