2025 Tax Budget Total of $179 Million; Some Departments’ Requests Not Included
Board of County Commissioners - July 2, 2024
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9:30 am on Tuesday, July 2, 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 James Dvorak, Timothy Lennon and Ralph Spidalieri. Also present were Assistant County Administrator Linda Burhenne, Finance Manager Adrian Gorton, Senior Financial Specialist Deborah Ashburn and Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair. County Administrator Gerald Morgan was absent.
County Representatives: Shane Hajjar, Deputy Engineer; Jessica Boalt, Director, Department on Aging; Glen Vernick, Maintenance Director; Matt Sieracki, Contract Coordinator, Maintenance, and Nick Gorris, Director, Water Resources.
Others in Attendance: Adam Litke, Administrator, Geauga Public Health; Carolyn Brakey, County Commissioner Candidate and Geauga Public Health Board member; Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand and Chief Deputy Thomas Rowan; Kathleen Hostutler, Human Resource Director; Auditor Charles Walder; David Lair, previous County Administrator; Tom Jones, Diane Jones, other members of the public, the press and this LWV observer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Minutes: There were no minutes submitted for approval. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through July 2, 2024, for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through May 21 , 2024.
Administrator’s Report
In the absence of Mr. Morgan, Ms. Burhenne gave the Administrator’s report of one item:
Financial Report
Mr. Gorton received approval for the following:
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Cash transfer from the General Fund to Court Technology for part of their regular funding
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Contract with Cable Communications for the installation of CCTV cameras in the new county office building
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Contract between Water Resources and Quasar Energy Group LLC for sludge removal
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Vouchers:
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$539,787.32 to Infinity Construction for payment # 9 for the courthouse expansion project
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$418,290.94 from the Engineers to Cole Burton Contractors LLC for paving of Fairmount Road
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$156,480 from the Sheriff to Ganley Chevrolet for three 2024 Chevy Tahoe replacement vehicles. Mr. Gorton said they now have purchased 7 in 2024 but are still short one more.
The Department on Aging received approval to execute the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging Request for Proposal Instructions and Application Forms for Alzheimer’s Respite Funds SFY 2024-2027. Ms. Boalt said that this is the state portion of the funding for this Fund.
The Maintenance Department received approval for the following:
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To advertise for Statements of Interest and Qualifications for Professional Design Services Related to the Design and Construction Administration of Existing Barn Roof with responses due on Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 4:00 pm. Notice of this request for Statements of Interest and Qualifications for Professional Design Services will be advertised on July 11, 2024 and on the county website. Mr. Lennon asked if this would come out of insurance proceeds and Mr. Vernick said that it would in part.
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To advertise for Statements of Interest and Qualifications for Professional Design Services Related to the Design and Construction Administration of Safety Center Parking Lot with responses due on Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 4:00 pm. Notice of this request for Statements of Interest and Qualifications for Professional Design Services will be advertised on July 11, 2024 and on the county website.
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To advertise for Bids for Geauga County Parking Lot Repairs to be held on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 2:00 pm. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on July 11, 2024, July 18, 2024 and on the county website.
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To approve and execute the service Contract Agreement with Ohio Machinery Company d.b.a. Ohio CAT to provide annual and semiannual inspections and maintenance to the generator at the Geauga County Safety Center for the period August 1, 2024 through December 31, 2026 in an amount not to exceed $32,000.00.
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To approve and execute the service Contract Agreement with McMahon Masonry Restoration, LTD to perform tuckpointing, restoration and masonry services at the Geauga County Courthouse Annex effective July 2, 2024 and shall be completed within 120 days in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00.
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To begin contract negotiations with TEC Incorporated, as the most qualified firm to provide professional design services for the replacement of generators at the Department of Emergency Services and the Claridon Tower Site.
The Department of Water Resources received approval to execute the service Contract Agreement with Harper Well and Pump Incorporated to perform well and pump services as needed at various locations within the department for a one-year period, effective July 2, 2024 in an amount not to exceed $10,000.00.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval to concur with the Bainbridge Township Trustees in not requesting a hearing on the Liquor License being requested by Superrich LLC located at 8307 E. Washington Street, Chagrin Falls, Ohio (C TREX 8693318).
Not on the Agenda - Ms. Burhenne brought up the topic of rent for Geauga Public Health (GPH). She asked the Commissioners if they wanted to charge GPH rent and how much they wanted to charge. She noted that there were concerns raised by Ms. Brakey, GPH Board member. Ms. Burhenne stated that they had found out that GPH was considered a “combined health district” because it had been discovered that there had been a contract with Chardon City, so under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) they are permitted to charge rent. She said that to make the County whole, considering maintenance expenses and utilities, the rent would be $3/sq foot. She said that didn’t include any cost allocation for the cost of constructing the building. If they end up with 5,609 sq ft with $4/sq ft it would come to $22,000 and with $3/sq ft it would be $18,000. Observer Note: Right now GPH has more square footage, but there is a proposed plan that part of their current space would be transferred to ADP. Ms. Burhenne said that others are paying much more, including BMV at $16/sq. ft and Soil and Water at $13/sq ft. She said that Job and Family Services and Water Resources were also paying more but didn’t state an amount.
Mr. Spidalieri asked if the City of Chardon contributes to the GPH. Mr. Litke, Administrator of GPH was in the audience and answered that they don’t but that everyone in the county contributes to the levy, including residents of Chardon. Ms. Brakey, also in the audience, said that it is the same for every township, part of the tax bill goes towards the levy.
Mr. Spidalieri stated that it is different for the License Bureau (BMV) as they are for profit and that State funds contribute for Water Resources. He said he didn’t want to “burden a division” but that covering costs would be great. He asked Mr. Litke if $4/sq ft was reasonable. Mr. Litke said that the Board had not considered this payment.
Ms. Burhenne said she would propose a three year contract with a 4th year as a rollover option.
Mr. Dvorak said that he has been asking about this since he became a Commissioner, and stated that he liked that they are in the county building. He proposed a first year charge of $2/sq ft, second year $3/sq ft and then years 3-5 would be $4/sq ft.
Mr. Litke said he could take that proposal to the Board.
Ms. Brakey commented that in figuring the cost of utilities it should be noted that the County was not under contract for an electrical supplier and so were paying ¼ million more than the going rate for contracted suppliers during the past year. Ms. Burhenne said that there was a hold up with CCAO (County Commissioners Association of Ohio). Observer Note: It was unclear why this would have prevented such a contract. Ms. Burhenne said she would look into this.
Mr. Lennon suggested that he was fine if Mr. Dvorak wanted to go and negotiate a price with GPH.
Ms. Burhenne asked when the next GPH Board meeting would be held, and Mr. Litke said it would be July 24.
The Commissioners’ Office held a Public Hearing at 10:00 a.m. on the Geauga County 2025 Tax Budget.
The 2025 proposed Budget was presented by Mr. Gorton and Ms. Ashburn.
Total 2025 $179 Million
General Fund $47.1 Million
Funding Requests from Departments $49 Million
The total budget represents a 27% increase over 2024.
Mr. Gorton said that the largest increase in the budget was the $31 Million in funds put aside for improvements to the McFarland Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mr. Gorton said that without this amount the increase would have been closer to 5%. Also, there were increases in the Building Improvement Fund, including $800,000 for projects planned for the County buildings on Chardon Square, $4 million in Metzenbaum Funds for medicaid waivers, residential services and contracted services and operating fund, $1.1 Million for the Engineer’s Department for increases for expected Ohio Public Works projects, an increase of $3.5 Million in the General Fund, and $1.5 million across various other areas.
General Fund Increase from 2024: $3.46M (7.9%)
The larger increases that were included in the General Fund Budget were for:
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$1.1M increase in payroll and fuel in Sheriff’s account
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$331,000 Common Pleas (also payroll)
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$430,000 Prosecutor’s Office (due to absorbing the Chardon Municipal Court)
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$400,000 ADP due to taking over the archives
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$870,00 Maintenance payroll, ground and maintenance costs and software
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$351,000 Commissioners Misc Fund, which included items for 800 MHz (megahertz) and 911
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$50,000 for postage expenses
Items that were requested by departments but are not in the Budget:
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$537,000 Sheriff’s Office - six replacement vehicles, replacement servers, computers
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$180,000 from Maintenance for vehicles
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$89,000 Board of Elections for a vehicle and high speed letter opener
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$26,000 auditor replacement computers and vehicle
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$80,000 ADP - vehicle, cabinet
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$450,000 staffing, including for a maintenance position for the Auditor and
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$119,000 in contract services which included for the Auditor for renovation work. This was removed as it is being undertaken by the Maintenance Department
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$75,000 utility contracts for Maintenance
Additionally, some funds requested by departments but coming from outside the General Fund were also reduced by $641,000. These included:
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$416,000 ADP computer equipment and other hardware
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$31,000 Sheriff - 800 communications Fund for lighting systems and truck upgrade
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$100,000 Auditor - money removed that was requested for maintenance work and office renovation
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$44,000 in the 911 Fund
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$51,000 Court Technology for computers, display and kiosks.
Mr. Gorton said that “as this year progresses, we will assess ability to fund these in whole or part or make them a priority for a supplemental next year.”
Revenue Overview
2025 General Fund Revenue: $47.2M, which is an Increase of $3.67M from 2024
Revenue sources that changed from 2024 Budget amounts:
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Increases - Property Tax $2.2M, Prisoner Housing $700K, Sales Tax $500K, State Reimbursement $300K, Cost Allocation $100K, Defense of Indigents $100K, Refunds and Reimbursements $50K. Mr. Gorton noted that this year the Sales tax was projected to have a more modest increase.
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Decreases – Property Transfer Tax -$250K, Recorder Fees -$50K
Where does property tax go: For every $1.00 of property tax paid by a homeowner in Geauga County, on the average: 16.1 cents is used to fund County programs. The remaining 83.9 cents fund the local school districts (56.4%), the Townships (15.2%), and the remainder funds Municipalities, the Public Library and the Parks.
Carryover
2023 - 9.7%
2024 - 8.5%
2025 - 8.5% projected
Mr. Gorton said that overall the county uses 90% of its budgeted funds, but other departments use less, and an average of 85% of the money budgeted is typically used.
Mr. Gorton said he wants to see this improved as this makes budgeting difficult.
Budget breakdown
Main components of expenses:
75% related to salaries, benefits and hospitalization insurance.
Breakdown by category:
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39.3 % safety
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37.5% legislative - elected officials
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15.7% judicial
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Remainder for soil and water, human services (Veterans), Bureau for children with (medically) handicapped children, Miscellaneous (insurance liability payments, youth center funding, postage, legal fees, Juvenile Detention Fund (just $50,000 this year due to change in contract))
Fund recap:
$2.8M – Department on Aging – Levy funding. Funds must be used for senior services. Aging will be utilizing some of this money to help build a new Chardon Senior Center.
$1.9M – Senior Center Construction Fund – 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. The balance of the funds will be used for renovation of the building and property.
$17.2M – American Rescue Plan Fund – $10M standard allowance will be used for Courthouse project, $5M for McFarland WWTP, $1M for Aquilla WWTP Rehabilitation,
$200K reimbursement to the Department on Aging for pandemic related expenses. $1M currently unallocated and may be used in a variety of other projects.
$4.2M – Building Improvement Fund – Will be used to improve County buildings. Multiple projects are currently in various phases of completion.
$10.2M – Capital Reserve Funds Phases 1 & 2 – Final stages of completion. Money ($1M) will likely be transitioned to debt retirement. Phase 2 courthouse expansion under construction.
Mr. Gorton said that the Commissioners would be presented with the Budget next week for a vote.
Questions: Mr. Gorton asked if there were any questions about the Budget:
This Observer asked for clarification about the amount of $8.5M carryover in the General Fund as opposed to the amount of $2.1 million of requests from departments that were not recommended for funding. Mr. Gorton stated that as they get closer to the end of the year and there is more certainty about funds remaining that the Commissioners could consider some of those requests or that they could be considered in 2025. He said there could be additional revenue that comes in this year, so some requests could be funded in 2024.
Ms. Burhenne asked about the money unspent by departments (almost $5 million) and whether that would be over and above the $8.5 million unencumbered amount.
Mr. Gorton said that any money not spent or encumbered in 2024 would be part of carryover.
There were no questions from the Commissioners and no further discussion.
Removed from the Agenda: The Commissioners’ Office had scheduled an Executive Session for the purpose of discussing with the Prosecutor the purchase of property. This was taken off the final Agenda.
Public Comment was solicited but none offered
Meeting adjourned.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next two meetings following this meeting will be July 9, 2024 and July 16, 2024, both at 9:30 am at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor and Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: 7/10/24
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