6 things you need to know about Franklin County's proposed 2023 budget
Starting Monday, Franklin County officials will hold a series of hearings on the 2023 budget proposal, which outlines planned expenditures and anticipated income for next year.
The Dispatch recently sat down with County Administrator Kenneth Wilson and Zak Talarek, director of the county Office of Management and Budget, to review the proposed spending plan.
Budget hearings will be broadcast live on the commissioners' website, commissioners.franklincountyohio.gov, and that of City of Columbus Government Television.
A copy of the budget proposal will be available on the commissioners' website.
Here are six things you need to know about the proposed 2023 Franklin County budget:
No tax or fee increases and no employee layoffs
First and foremost, the proposed spending plan does not call for any increases in county taxes or fees and no plans for employee furloughs or layoffs, Wilson said.
For the second year in a row, Franklin County officials anticipate that millions in federal COVID-19 relief money will help the county balance its budget without any tax or fee hikes.
In 2022, the county experienced record sales tax collections and more than $584 million in general fund revenues, boosted by federal COVID relief funds, after previous pandemic-related declines. The proposed 2023 spending plan projects nearly $598 million in general fund revenues and $594 million in expenses.
This amounts to a 2.5% increase in general fund expenses and a 2.4% increase in general fund revenues from 2022.
Rainy day fund contains nearly $82 million
The proposed spending plan also includes $81.9 million in a rainy day fund so the county can prepare for the future and any unexpected problems or expenses.
"We're in a strong financial position," Wilson said, noting the county is putting aside money now for the next decade. "One of the keys here is long-term financial investment."
Doing so now will alleviate the financial pressure on the county and its taxpayers once federal COVID-19 relief funds run out, he said.
This strategy is very similar to how other counties with triple-A bond ratings operate, Talarek said, noting Moody's Investors Service recently updated its credit opinion for Franklin County to the highest possible bond rating.
"That gives us that cushion to know it will carry us through the hard times," he said.
More:Franklin County officials expect no tax, fee hikes in 2023 budget thanks to COVID relief funds
More budget funding for social programs, services
After two years in the COVID-19 pandemic, Wilson said county commissioners have placed a larger emphasis on providing needed services to residents, directing county staff to make that a priority in the 2023 budget.
"We're amplifying our efforts, taking direction from commissioners to bring the government to the people," he said.
Among such spending included in the proposed 2023 plan is:
$13 million to carry forward the county's RISE initiative, which provides early learning scholarships, incentive pay for child care programs and rental assistance for child care workers who have been underpaid.
$3 million to continue the county's the Tech Women of Color initiative, which provides 15 weeks of "technical skills training, executive mentoring, financial coaching" to 200 women of color through August 2024.
$1.7 million to Franklin County Public Health for the agency's Community Health Improvement Plan.
$1 million for two more mobile offices for various county agencies to provide services through events throughout the community, not just at county offices.
"People are learning just how many ways the county is affecting their lives," Wilson said.
Newly renewed Senior Services levy funds included in budget
In the election results last Tuesday, 78% of Franklin County voters cast their ballots to renew a senior services levy that will provide the county Office on Aging with another $50.3 million a year for the next five years for its Senior Options program.
Those funds are included in the budget proposal commissioners will review this week.
The program provides residents 60 and older with services intended to keep them at home, including home-delivered meals, transportation to and from medical appointments, adult day care, temporary relief for their home caregivers and emergency response buttons.
Under the 1.75-mill levy, the owner of a $100,000 single-family home currently pays about $41 a year, Talarek said.
More:Franklin, Delaware counties' senior services levies pass with ease
More:Franklin County senior services levy up for renewal on general election ballot
New Franklin County jail construction project enters second phase
Included in the 2023 budget proposal is funding for the second phase of the new James A. Karnes Corrections Center, 2551 Fisher Road, on Columbus' West Side.
This phase will add 426 more beds, increasing the facility's capacity to a total of 1,290, according to the county.
The new facility will replace the county's Downtown jail, which was built in the 1960s, and the proposed spending plan also includes funding to explore tearing down the old jail and building a child care center in its place, Talarekvsaid.
A rapid resource center also will connect inmates and their families with transportation, job search and other services.
More:Franklin County's new jail has former Sheriff 'Big Jim' Karnes as inspiration
More:Franklin County master plan recommends replacing Downtown jail with child care center
Franklin County 2023 budget hearings set for Nov. 14-16
Franklin County will hold hearings on the budget from 1 to 3:45 p.m. Monday through Wednesday via Zoom and broadcast live on the commissioners' website, commissioners.franklincountyohio.gov.
Monday's hearings will focus on a general overview; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; and affordable housing initiatives. Tuesday's will feature Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health; Children Services; Human Resources; and Public Facilities Management. Wednesday's will deal with Child SUpport Enforcement Agency; Job & Family Services; Justice Policy & Programs; and Office on Aging.
The hearings will consist of presentations from agency leaders, along with follow-up questions and comments from commissioners.
nshuda@dispatch.com
@NathanielShuda
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly listed the websites on which the budget hearings will be livestreamed. The hearings will be broadcast live on the commissioners' website, commissioners.franklincountyohio.gov, and that of City of Columbus Government Television.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Franklin County's 2023 budget proposal: What you need to know
