PATA History Pages

Fairfield County Debt Political Hot Potato

Mike Kiger Asserts Financial Crisis... did not consult Auditor

Excerpts From LEG article below: Mike Kiger asserts financial crisis but did not consult the auditor to verify figures or how debt is paid back

From the LEG: click link below for the whole story

"Fairfield County is facing a budget crisis. The coming budget crisis will make the $2 million forced budget reduction of last December look like a day in the park," said Fairfield County Commissioner Mike Kiger. "This is a warning to the citizens of Fairfield County and especially to the office holders and employees of Fairfield County."

Political Motivation?

"It's political and unfortunate that Mike didn't talk to us or the county auditor about bonds," Shupe said. "He passed this on to our political opponents, and it's pretty clear he doesn't understand what encumbrances are or how bonds operate."

County Auditor Barbara Curtiss said the county is not broke and not close to it.

"My concern is that no one, including Mike Kiger, came to my office and asked about bonds or the debt before making public statements," Curtiss said.

Curtiss said the issue could affect the county's bond rating, which is used to establish the interest rates on bonds.

Fairfield County's bond rating was improved in 2001 to a rating that allowed the county to pay lower interest rates for its bonds. The lower interest rates allowed the county to save approximately $250,000 on its bonds, Curtiss said.

"It's pretty irresponsible for a commissioner to sit there and say something like that which could jeopardize our bond rating," Curtiss said.