Ashland County is one of only eight counties in Ohio with little or no debt.

The county has only one debt to pay-off, with voters approving a quarter-percent sales tax increase to cover it.

Commission Kim Edwards says it's for the county jail, which was built in 2000.  The debt will be paid off in 2017.  

She says the reason Ashland County does not carry any other debt is because it can't afford to make the payments.

But even this lack of debt does not give Ashland County government much excess cash, and getting all of the bills paid in 2013 will be a challenge.

Edwards says the big problem Ashland County, and every other local government in Ohio has, is cuts in funding for programs the state requires counties and cities to maintain.