Budget Commission – January 6, 2023
Meeting Details: The Geauga County Budget Commission met in Special Session on Friday, January 6, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in the Auditor’s Conference Room at 215 Main Street, Chardon, Ohio. This meeting was in person with a virtual option via MS Teams.
Commission Attendance: Auditor Chuck Walder, Prosecutor Jim Flaiz and Treasurer Chris Hitchcock
Staff Attendance: Deputy Auditors Tammy Most and Kristen Sinatra
County/School/Township/Village Representatives: none
Minutes: none presented
Revenue Certification Requests:
The following Revenue Certifications were approved:
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Geauga Park District- Amendment # 1. $10,221,046.44 in the general fund, $794.34 in special revenue funds, and $1,793,049.35 in capital project funds for a total of $12,014,890.13.
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Geauga County Health District- Amendment # 1. $2,639,451.69 in the general fund and $4,507,280.42 in special revenue funds for a total of $7,146,732.11.
DISCUSSION: Auditor Walder noted that he attended the Health District’s recent meeting where he learned that it has not been decided whether the Health District will be putting a renewal or replacement levy before the voters. Walder stated that they have a healthy amount of carryover- approximately $3.5 million- but noted that the Health District’s recent difficulties, such as the revoking of their contract with Lake County, have resulted in a lot of unknowns, which makes it hard to budget. The auditor has provided the Health District with information on the rules regarding levies.
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Geauga Trumbull Solid Waste- Amendment #1. $5,730,387.12 in the general fund, $24,313.07 in the capital projects fund, and $17.34 in special revenue funds for a total of $5,754,717.53.
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Geauga County- Amendment #1. $46,242,857.46 in the general fund, $123,046,185.81 in special revenue funds, $6,279,092.87 in debt service funds, $1,254,159.50 in special assessment funds, $26,902,551.76 in capital project funds, $17,543,060.25 in enterprise funds, $1,206,807.93 in internal service funds, and $3,757,550.66 in fiduciary funds for a total of $226,232,266.24.
DISCUSSION: Auditor Walder stated that Geauga County is very fortunate financially. It was noted that the county has over 200 funds, which take four pages when listed individually. Prosecutor Flaiz stated there are many funds with money available that appear to be underutilized, such as the building improvements fund with over $4.3 million available while numerous county buildings have visible need of improvement. He noted that there are also dormant funds that still have money in them that should be removed from those dormant funds to be used elsewhere. Flaiz said that he would like directors responsible for the allotment of these funds to explain why the funds are not being better utilized. Auditor Walder noted that the county cannot keep raising taxes with so much money already available to it.
Rates of Taxation for Tax Year 2022 (2023 Collection)
Housekeeping Items:
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available on Auditor website
Next Meeting: January 18, 2023 at 9:30 am
Name of Observers: Sarah McGlone
Editor: Shelly Lewis
Name of Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Submitted 1/6/2023
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