Budget Commission – August 1, 2022
The meeting was scheduled for 10 am but began at 10:18 due to technical difficulties - at the Auditor's conference room, in- person and virtually.
Present:
• Chris Hitchcock (Treasurer)
• Chuck Walder ( Auditor)
• James Flaiz (Prosecutor)* via Webex
• Tammy Most (Deputy Auditor)
• Kristen Sinatra (Deputy Auditor)
This organization meeting started with electing a chair for the year, which will be Mr. Chris Hitchcock, Treasurer.
Meetings were set for the 3rd Monday at 10 am at the Auditor’s conference room
Mr. Walder’s alternate will be Mr. Ron Leyde. Mr. Hitchcock will have the same alternates as in prior years.
It was determined that the rate of collection will be set at 98%. There was some discussion of this rate since it is possible that there might be a financial downturn.
The following were certified for changes:
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West Geauga School District – Change to General Revenue
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Bainbridge Township – special revenue fund for opioid settlement funds. (It was discussed that not all townships are receiving these funds, only those with a police department).
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South Russell – decrease in General Fund and two additional funds for Opioid settlement and Roads
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Troy Township – amendment for ARPA funds
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Geauga/Trumbull Solid Waste – increase in Supplemental Fund.
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Health District – there were supplementals in five funds
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Geauga County – Increase in the general fund due to ARPA – second $9 million payment received.
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Thompson – Reserve fund for police, which will include land acquisition, and building; $250,000 for 10 years. Initial amount $150,000.
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Cardinal School District – amendment to budget. They hired a new treasurer.
Budget Hearings
It was stated by Mr. Walder that five townships had fatal issues – mostly not difficult to correct. Each one will be notified. (Observer Note: This observer heard the following names but not a fifth: Auburn, Huntsburg, Chester and Parkman)
Geauga Park District request for certification of a new Land Acquisition Fund – This is under legal review. This is not a budgetary concern, but rather there are issues in the creation of the Fund. Mr Walder asked that legal counsel be present for the Geauga Park District hearing (in addition to Budget Commission member Mr. Flaiz). It was noted that the Geauga Park District is the last one on the short schedule day – Tuesday, August 16th at 11:30
It was noted that once budgets are submitted as final only the Auditor and the Budget Commission can alter the budget.
Meeting Change – Motion approved to cancel the September 5 meeting. There will be only one meeting in September on September 19th.
Geauga County New Building Loan – There was a discussion about the loan that the County Commissioners took out for the new building. Interest rates have changed so now the interest that the County is receiving is greater than the interest that they are paying on the loan. By law a governmental entity can’t borrow money to make money– this is called Arbitrage and could be illegal. There was a brief discussion of possible ways to get around this issue including investing in under-performing bonds, possibly Series E bonds or using ARPA money to pay off the debt.
(Observer Note: This discussion was fairly technical, and the reader would be advised to contact the Budget Commission with questions or wait until the formal minutes are issued. See also https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-135.14/8-1-2018
More Information and Minutes of past meetings available here when posted
Next Meeting: Budget Hearings August 15-16, 2022 at 9 am
Name of Observer: Gail Roussey
Name of Reviewer: Shelly Lewis
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