The Budget Commission met at 10 am on November 21, 2022. The meeting was in person with a virtual option via Web-Ex.
Commission Attendance:
Staff Attendance:
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Tammy Most (Deputy Auditor)
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Ron Leyde (Deputy Auditor)
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Kristen Sinatra (Deputy Auditor)
Government Representatives:
Minutes for November 7, 2022 were approved without discussion
Budget Amendments:
The following were approved for Budget Amendments:
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Bainbridge Township- Amendment # 7 for an increase in Special revenue
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Geauga Trumbull Solid Waste- Appropriation transfers with unchanged total appropriations
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Geauga County Health District- Appropriation transfers with unchanged total appropriations as well as a supplemental appropriation to the general health fund for contract services of $50,000.00. Cash transfers from the general health fund to both injury prevention ($20,000.00) and population health ($60,000.00) were also approved.
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Middlefield Village- decrease in the millage for the ambulance and EMS levy voters approved on 11/8/2022 from 1.45Mills to 1.00 Mills for collection years 2023-2027.
The following were not approved for Budget Amendments:
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Geauga Public Health Department- Resolutions for creating two reserve accounts ($300,000.00 for capital projects and $300,000.00 for an employee payment fund) were tabled due to a lack of supportive data on the need for the funds
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Geauga County- Amendment #18 to increase 1) general fund revenue previously certified to the Auditor ($1,100,000.00), Commissioners ($1,500,000.00), Treasurer ($500,000.00), and Public Defender ($225,000.00), 2) special revenue funds for MR/DD residential services by $535,000.00, and 3) Engineer Road & Bridge Tax and Homestead Revenue by $178,861,79.
Auditor Walder found it unusual to make these requests so close to the end of the year, as the funds would have been automatically certified on January 1, 2023. Finance Director Adrian Gorton attempted to explain how the increased revenue would be accounted for, but Prosecutor Flaiz remained concerned about the lack of transparency about where the funds were going. Flaiz was especially troubled by a proposed $1,500,000.00 allotted to debt retirement, which he thought was excessive and could be perceived as hiding money for unknown purposes. Flaiz also stated that he felt a commissioner should attend budget commission meetings where matters of substance are being considered. Flaiz motioned to not approve the increases, and Walder and Mansfield agreed to not approve them.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available on Auditor website
Next Meeting: November 28 at 10 am (Special)
Name of Observers: Gail Roussey & Sarah McGlone
Name of Reviewer: Shelly Lewis
Submitted 11/21/2022
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