ALFRED — The auditor for York County government said the county is one of three he knows of that has maintained or improved its financial condition.

“That’s very rare, it is not a typical trend,” said Ron Smith of RHR Smith, a firm that audits 11 of Maine’s 16 counties.

The auditor gave a brief overview of York County government’s financial picture for the 2018 fiscal year to York County commissioners on Wednesday.

He pointed out that the general fund’s unassigned balance — essentially a rainy day fund — is at $2.5 million. Overall, the general fund is at $5 million, with about $2.5 million either committed or assigned. York County Jail, which is figured separately from the general fund, has a $1.1 million fund balance, of which $333,367 is unassigned, according to the auditor’s figures.

Smith said expenses were flat in 2018 and for the most part, “dead on” projections.

As to revenues, thanks to a robust real estate market, York County Registry of Deeds took in $300,000 more in fiscal year 2018 than projected.

Commissioners were pleased. Board Chairman Richard Dutremble recalled the dark days of 2007, when the board learned the county government was awash in red ink. A plan was put in place to rectify the situation, but then, in September 2009, 24 county workers were laid off, though many positions were restored starting the following spring.

“We had a negative balance in 2007,” Dutremble recalled, pointing out it took 12 years for the county to reach its present financial condition.

“We’re in a really strong financial position right now,” said County Manager Greg Zinser on Thursday. “We’ve come a long way from days past. We have very strong reserves and unassigned balance.”

A look at general fund revenues shows that 84.79 percent of York County’s revenues is derived from taxes from York County’s 29 municipalities

The York County Sheriff’s Office police services division consumes 24,89 percent of the general fund expenses; the district attorney’s office 10.94 percent, management and administration 9.10 percent, deeds 6.03 percent, probate 5.64 percent, and so on.

Smith indicated that the county had  an issue with an employee who had used a county credit card to make personal purchases, and he advised county authorities to review their credit card policy.

Commissioner Richard Clark noted the transaction was outside the county’s policy.

Zinser on Thursday said the amount, which he could not recall, has been repaid. He said the individual who improperly used the county’s credit card is no longer in the county’s employ.

Zinser said the county is looking at alternatives to credit cards.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.