Bedford County's Financial Struggles
By: Jim Madalinsky
Updated: January 11, 2013
2012 was a year to forget in Bedford County.
"My understanding is that this is probably the worst it's been, it started a lot earlier," Bedford County Commissioners Chair Kirt Morris says.
With unexpected expenses such as Juvenile Placement, increased utility rates, and long struggle with President Judge Thomas Ling over funds, the county finished the year more than $400,000 in debt.
"We have a lot of local vendors people who have worked on heating and air at the jail, food suppliers that have gone above and beyond allowing us to receive products and services even though they know they won't get paid, at least timely," Morris says.
The lack of funds impacts all county programs including the Children Youth Services, which is already under-staffed.
"We're short one fiscal person, one case worker, we're down a homemaker and our transporter is down to part-time," Bedford County Youth Services Administrator Lisa Cairo says.
Lisa Cairo has spent 10 years working for youth services, and while they have never been fully staffed, she's never used the l word: Layoffs.
"Any possibility of a layoff would definitely increase our families not being served the way they should be," Cairo says.
County Commissioners are hoping to avoid those cuts at all costs, and it starts with a $1.6 million low interest loan from the government set to come in this month.
"That money is key to getting us through January, February and March," Miller says.
But from there Cairo says it will be a team effort in making sure no jobs are lost in 2013.
"If we can't collaboratively work together it's kind of a struggle because you can't do everything on your own," Cairo says.
"My understanding is that this is probably the worst it's been, it started a lot earlier," Bedford County Commissioners Chair Kirt Morris says.
With unexpected expenses such as Juvenile Placement, increased utility rates, and long struggle with President Judge Thomas Ling over funds, the county finished the year more than $400,000 in debt.
"We have a lot of local vendors people who have worked on heating and air at the jail, food suppliers that have gone above and beyond allowing us to receive products and services even though they know they won't get paid, at least timely," Morris says.
The lack of funds impacts all county programs including the Children Youth Services, which is already under-staffed.
"We're short one fiscal person, one case worker, we're down a homemaker and our transporter is down to part-time," Bedford County Youth Services Administrator Lisa Cairo says.
Lisa Cairo has spent 10 years working for youth services, and while they have never been fully staffed, she's never used the l word: Layoffs.
"Any possibility of a layoff would definitely increase our families not being served the way they should be," Cairo says.
County Commissioners are hoping to avoid those cuts at all costs, and it starts with a $1.6 million low interest loan from the government set to come in this month.
"That money is key to getting us through January, February and March," Miller says.
But from there Cairo says it will be a team effort in making sure no jobs are lost in 2013.
"If we can't collaboratively work together it's kind of a struggle because you can't do everything on your own," Cairo says.
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.