Author photo

By Ashley Parkinson
The Record-Times 

Candidate for Commissioner: Rob Coffman

 

Last updated 6/13/2022 at 4:45pm

DAVENPORT- Rob Coffman has served District 3 as county commissioner since 2010 and is hopeful for another four-year term.

Coffman is running for his fourth term in office.

When asked if he thought the commissioner's board is doing a good job, Coffman said

"I do. We have been able to balance the budget every year with declining revenues and more unfunded mandates from the state being put on us."

"We've effectively balanced 11 budgets since I've been with Lincoln County," he said.

Coffman said additional monetary resources are needed in the county's public safety and road funds.

"The three main areas that commissioners are responsible for are public health, public safety and public roads," Coffman said.

"Public health services are being adequately funded thanks to the federal government and the state," he added.

When asked if he had the option to make budget cuts he stated the county couldn't afford to have any.


"The whole county should be shielded from cuts," Coffman said.

Coffman stated it wasn't just the county to take into consideration.

The current expense fund encompasses the courthouse, all the services in the courthouse and the Sheriff's office.

The county road fund is a separate fund. The two funds don't mix, but both collect property taxes.

"We can't cut from the courthouse due to bare minimum staffing as is and it would be difficult to cut from other services," Coffman said.

Coffman said facing a budget gap is an unsustainable practice. The county is often faced with a budget gap in its current expense that the commissioners are forced to close with cash reserve funds.

"You would have to start using reserves to fund your services. You must cut expenses or increase revenues," Coffman said. "Counties can't increase revenues past 1%."

"It's a structural deficiency really," he added. "If the revenues don't keep pace with the expenditures, it creates a gap, unless there's corrections made it is not sustainable."

Coffman said the Third District's needs aren't more prominent than the needs of the other two county districts.

"I don't think my district has any more needs than the other two districts," Coffman said.

"In the northern part of the county, which includes District 2 and 3 we do need to work on the roads, where the most amount of growth is, but it is not specific to my district."

Coffman has 15 years of agriculture experience and has run several small businesses.

He's been a business owner for the last 20 years and has experience balancing business budgets.

Coffman and his wife Shara own a real estate firm while operating an RV park and a mini storage facility.

His previously owned businesses include a welding fabrication business and a contract liquor store. He was also a federally licensed firearms dealer.

He has been on the County Road Administration Board for the last nine years.

Coffman would begin his fourth term in office in 2023 if elected.

BIO

Position sought: County Commissioner

Age: 57

Hometown: Wilbur

Current city of residence: Wilbur

Family: Married with two children and one grandchild.

Relevant experience:

Wilbur town council, Lincoln County Commissioner

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024

Rendered 03/21/2024 10:38