County Tax Budget Hearing Presentation to the Public Scheduled for Tuesday, July 2 at 10 am
Board of County Commissioners - June 11, 2024
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9:30 am on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. The meetings are in-person only and there are no recordings for the public. An agenda is available in advance via request to the Commissioners’ Clerk and at the meeting.
Public Comment Policy: Observer Comment: Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri announced at the end of the April 4, 2023 meeting that public comment would be permitted and that a more formal policy would be forthcoming. There was no formal policy introduced today, but public comment was permitted.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Spidalieri, James Dvorak, and Timothy Lennon. Also present were County Administrator Gerald Morgan, Assistant County Administrator Linda Burhenne, Finance Manager Adrian Gorton, and Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair.
County Representatives: Shane Hajjar, PE, Deputy Engineer; Glen Vernick, Maintenance Director; Matt Sieracki, Maintenance Contract Coordinator; Roger Peterson, Director, Emergency Management Services; Kelly Bidlack, Human Resources Specialist, and Craig Swenson, Director, Job and Family Services.
Others in Attendance: Jessica Boalt, Director, Office on Aging; Kathleen Hostutler, HR Director; Jim Mausser, Finance Manager, Geauga Mental Health and Recovery Board; Adam Litke, Administrator, Geauga Public Health; Carolyn Brakey, County Commissioner Candidate and Geauga Public Health Board member; Charles Walder, Auditor; Pam McMahan, Fiscal Office Manager; Tom Jones, Diane Jones, other members of the public, the press and this LWV observer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Minutes: Minutes were submitted and approved from the meetings on April 30 and May 7, 2024. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through June 11, 2024, for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through April 9, 2024.
Administrator’s Report
Mr. Morgan reported on actions he had taken in the prior week that had been authorized by ORC and the Commissioners:
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Extended an unpaid medical leave in the Department of Aging, accepted a resignation in the Department of Aging, and approved advertising for two full-time recreation/educational assistants in the Department of Aging.
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Approved the hiring of a part-time communications clerk/switchboard operator in the Maintenance Department.
Financial Report
Mr. Gorton received approval for the following:
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Appropriation transfer from the General Fund to Special Counsel Fees for an encumbrance increase (amount not stated).
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Cash transfer to the Public Defender’s Department to the unemployment rotary fund.
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Purchase Order to Lake/Geauga Recovery for the support of the jail treatment program and two years’ of costs for the expanded facilities for Lake/Geauga Recovery in Chardon. It was stated that these funds will be from the Opiate Settlement Money (no amount listed). Observer Note: These funds are from lawsuits with various entities such as CVS and Walgreens. The funds come through the State of Ohio.
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Travel for Community Development and Job and Family Services.
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Then and Now from the Sheriff’s Office to Tim Lally Chevrolet for purchase of a 2023 police pursuit vehicle.
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Vouchers: $40,000 from Community Development to ESC (Educational Service Center of Western Reserve) for payment #2 of their ACE community education grant. Observer Note: Mr. Gorton confirmed to this observer that this is the second payment to a new community school for an agriculture school in Middlefield that will have a base of operations within Cardinal High School. The Commissioners agreed to contribute $100,000 through Community and Economic Development for start up costs for this school. See Observer Report for March 12, 2024. Information about this school can be found on the Department of Education and Workforce Development here. The school was created on April 1, 2024 and is listed as “under construction”. It is not yet able to receive grant funds from the State.
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$28,000 from Maintenance to Burton Carpet for the carpet in the 2nd floor of the Opera House.
The County Engineer’s Office received approval to execute the Unit Price Contract with The Aero-Mark Company, LLC, for the Application of Polyester Pavement Markings to Various Roads in Geauga County, Year 2024, in the amount of $254,517.00.
The Department of Emergency Services received approval to execute the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Lake County and Geauga County Board of Commissioners for the Use of Lake County’s DroneSense subscription service license with DroneSense, Incorporated, a Platform Streaming Service System. This MOU is for a period of five years, with an automatic renewal for successive five-year periods at a cost of $1,200.00 annually.
The Maintenance Department received approval to execute the Service Contract Agreement with Meridian Construction Services, Inc., to perform construction services at the Geauga County Courthouse Annex, per the specifications for the Auditor’s Office Basement Restroom Remodel; work will be complete within 90 days of execution, effective June 11, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $60,000.00. Mr. Lennon asked if this was all approved by the auditor. Mr. Walder was at the meeting and stated that this project was being handled by Pam McMahan, Fiscal Office Manager. He also said that the long-term plan was to do these upgrades so that Board of Revision hearings could be held in the basement, as it will provide more room. Ms. McMahan was also in the audience and stated that everyone was aware of the plans.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval for several health and wellness sessions as part of Geauga County Employee Wellness Program to be paid through the CEBCO Wellness Grant.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval to execute the letters to State Legislators in Support of Retaining Local Control of Zoning within the State of Ohio. These letters were then circulated for signatures from the Commissioners.
Recap on the Tax Budget Hearings - Mr. Adrian Gorton gave a recap of the Department Budget Hearings that were held May 7, 14, and 21, 2024. Observer Note: The LWV Geauga Observer Report on these hearings is available here.
Key points in the presentation were as follows:
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This summary is for the Department Budget Hearings and is not the County Tax Budget Presentation, which will be presented to the public on July 2 (see below).
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Both Revenue and Expenses are projected to increase in 2025, with expenses outpacing revenue. Mr. Gorton stated that it is not unusual to have expenses exceed revenue and that the figures do not include carryover.
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In the General Fund, revenue increased for Sales Tax, Property Taxes, State Reimbursement for Real Estate and Prisoner housing. There has been a steady increase in revenue. Mr. Gorton said that expenses have kept pace with increased revenue. He noted that $11.7 Million was carried over in 2024.
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Mr. Gorton reviewed every department's requests, highlighting each department’s requests for expenses, contract services, payroll and equipment and explaining reasons for increases.
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ADP took in the Archives Department, which caused their payroll expenses to increase (19.85% increase over 2024 amended budget).
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Common Pleas Court - Payroll increased by 16%, going from $1.3 Million to $1.5 Million from 2024 to the request for 2025 Budget.
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Coroner added staff (part time to full time)
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Engineer - Payroll increased by 36.44%.
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Maintenance - They are struggling to hire staff, so wage adjustments were made; payroll increased 30% ($1.15 million to $1.5 Million)
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Prosecutor - Payroll increased 12.1% due to the fact that the County Prosecutor now has assimilated the Municipal Court staff.
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Public Defender - Payroll increased due to salary adjustments to achieve parity with the Prosecutor’s office.
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Sheriff - Mr. Gorton said this is one of the largest budgets. He noted that a lot of their equipment has been delayed and that payroll increased by 3.37%. He stated that there are a lot of vacant positions.
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Treasurer - Contract services are up
Recap for revenue/requested expenses and possible reductions in the General Fund:
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General Fund Revenue: $47,218,065.00
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General Fund Expenses: $49,658,053.00
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Deficit: -$2,439,988.00
Mr. Gorton said that this deficit does not include $8-10 million in unencumbered cash that would be added to the revenue. Mr. Gorton further said that he felt there could be reductions in the following:.
Possible Reductions:
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Payroll: $511,796.00
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Contracts: $713,795.00
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Equipment: $1,755,533.00
Mr. Gorton explained that, if all of these reductions were implemented, there would no longer be a General Fund deficit; instead the General Fund would have a positive balance of $541,136.00.
Mr. Gorton said he would be looking to the Commissioners to see whether they’d like to make some reductions or send the Budget with the requests that were made.
Observer Note: During the Budget Hearing presentation to the public on July 2nd, there may be an explanation of how these decreases might be achieved, including which departmental funding requests may not be fully funded with the 2025 Budget. However, this information was not provided at this meeting.
Recap of other Funds
Mr. Gorton described the following funds:
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Department on Aging: $2.8M – Levy funding. Funds must be used for senior services. Aging will be utilizing some of this money to help build the new Chardon Senior Center.
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Senior Center Construction Fund: $1.9M – Money from sale of previous Senior Center, along with funds transferred from the department. The County is currently in the process of acquiring property in Chardon Township ($750,000). The balance of the funds will be used for renovation of the building and property.
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American Rescue Plan Fund: $17.2M. $10M standard allowance will be used for Courthouse project, $5M for McFarland WWTP (Waste Water Treatment Plant), $1M for Aquilla WWTP Rehabilitation, $200K reimbursement to the Department on Aging for pandemic related expenses, and $1M currently unallocated that may be used in a variety of other projects.
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Building Improvement Fund: $4.2M – Will be used to improve County buildings. Multiple projects are currently in various phases of completion. The most current 5-year plan includes $6M worth of projects. Funds will be set aside to do these projects, but the $6M doesn’t include the roof on the Safety Center which will need to be done.
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Capital Reserve Funds Phases 1 & 2: $10.2M – Final stages of completion. Phase I Money ($1M) will likely be transitioned to debt retirement. Phase 2 is the courthouse expansion, which is under construction and will be paid for from this Fund.
Mr. Gorton summarized the Tax Budget Requests Summary “Take-aways” as follows:
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The County must stay vigilant regarding its conservative budgets.
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The County) should not jump ahead of itself regarding revenue and continue in a steep upward trajectory with expenses.
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The best way to maintain a level of control is to budget strictly for the necessities and consider increases at a later time once resources are identified.
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The County will spend what is needed and will endeavor to return unneeded revenue to public citizens.
Mr. Lennon also said that even though revenues are going up, that doesn’t mean that spending should also go up.
Public Comment: Mrs. Jones asked about the decrease in contract services for Community Development from $54,800 to $1500. Mr. Gorton said their expenses went down because they are not using the same firm to help with Block Grants.
The Commissioners’ Office received permission to advertise to hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., to discuss the Geauga County 2025 Tax Budget. Notice of this Public Hearing will be advertised on June 20, 2024, and on the County website.
The Department of Job and Family Services requested that the Board move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the employment of a public employee.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval to move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the compensation of public employees.
Return from Executive Session at 12:08 - No Action Taken
Meeting adjourned.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next two meetings following this meeting will be June 18, 2024 and June 25, 2024 both at 9:30 am at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: 6/23/2024
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