COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Scioto County became the first county in Ohio Wednesday to be placed in fiscal emergency by the Ohio Auditor's office.
The same designation was given to the City of Cleveland in 1980 when it essentially went bankrupt.
The chairman of the Scioto County Commissioners said the county can still pay its bills -- it's just taking longer. Plus, the county still owes millions of dollars on a new jail.
In addition, the county is making virtually nothing on its investments.
Two years ago, the county made $900,000 on its bank investments and this year it will likely make $40,000.
County employees have been asked to take a day off every other week to cut costs, but since the county is self-insured, Commissioner Tom Reiser said it actually costs the county more to lay off a worker than to have them continue working.
They would have to pay all of the worker's unemployment and most of their insurance costs.
Resident Tom Atkinson said the county's problem began years ago when mills along the Ohio River began closing.
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