Richland County's revenues for 2022 exceed expectations

Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero will be getting a free lunch courtesy of County Auditor Pat Dropsey. That’s because the county ended 2022 with around $1.5 million more in revenue than Dropsey estimated for the year.

Dropsey told the board in November during 2023 budget discussions that county general fund revenue at the end of this year would total $42.3 million or about 7.4% more than was predicted for the 2022 budget because of a generally good economy. Vero predicted revenue would be around $1 million higher based on state sales tax projections for November and made a friendly lunch wager as he has done for the past three years.

Vero reported on Thursday during the commissioner’s last regular meeting of 2022 that the county will end the year with $43.8 million in total revenue, which includes an expected $600,000 payment from the City of Mansfield for housing city prisoners in the county jail. The revenue total is $7.1 million more than the county spent this year.

Commissioners allocated $286,000 to encumbrances before voting to allocate $50,000 of the extra revenue to the public defender fund to cover a $15,000 shortfall and future expenses until the county receives state reimbursement for past expenses. Vero noted that more than $2 million was spent this year for legal expenses for indigent criminal defendants, with 90% reimbursed by the state.

Commissioners also voted on Thursday to designate $1.3 million of the $7.1 million for future payments to pay off bonds issued to finance past construction projects for the dog warden’s office and Dayspring, the county’s assisted living facility. The board also allocated $2.19 million in the county’s “rainy day” fund, which was the maximum allowed under a resolution commissioners approved several years ago. That brings the fund up to nearly $4.8 million that is available if the county runs into uncertain financial times such as in 2008 and 2009 when revenues were less than estimated.

Commissioners put the remaining $3.4 million into the county’s capital projects funds, bringing the total to $9.2 million available for unanticipated or future capital improvements. The board decided to leave the general fund carryover balance at the current $8.1 million.

Vero said the state is projecting that the January sales tax distribution will be 6% better than in January 2022. Commissioner Darrell Banks said he believes part of the reason for the good news is action by the Ohio General Assembly to apply the state sales tax to internet sales.

Commissioners acted on several other financial issues, including approval of budgets for non-general-fund agencies and operations including auto title, the Community Alternative Center, children services, Dayspring, the county engineer’s office, job and family services, mental health and recovery services, Richland Newhope, regional planning, Richland Public Health, the soil and water conservation district, the solid waste district, Richland County Transit and wastewater operations. They noted that Dayspring, the library and the Area Agency on Aging are all expected to put levy requests on the 2023 primary election ballot.

Commissioners also approved an across-the-board 2.5% increase for wage scales that have been established for general fund county employees who are not part of a collective bargaining agreement.

ARPA funds allocated for 911 upgrade

In other business, commissioners voted to allocate $1,085,821 from the county’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds and approve license and service agreements with Tyler Technologies of Plano, Texas, for a new computer-aided dispatch system for the county’s 911 dispatch operation. The figure will cover most of the first year cost of the agreements, with another $250,000 coming from the state mandated 911 wireless surcharge.

Sheriff’s Operations Capt. Jim Sweat said it will take 12 to 14 months to convert data from the current dispatch program and train employees before the new system is operational.

“This is a huge advancement forward for public safety in Richland County and shows a continued investment by the board of commissioners to move our public safety in the right direction and get us to where we need to be, and where we should be,” Sweat said. “This definitely puts the sheriff’s office and the county as the leaders in public safety software.”

Commissioners deal with Youth and Family Council issues

Commissioners also took a number of actions involving the Richland County Youth and Family Council, including the extension of service contracts with eight agencies using $57,759 in unspent 2022 fund allocations. Job and Family Services Director Lori Bedson said the extensions through March 30 will carry the programs until a new YFC director is hired.

Commissioners also voted to advertise for a new YFC director to replace Teresa Alt, who was terminated for cause Nov. 15 along with JFS Business Manager Carmen Torrence. They also promoted Kali Pugh, current council service coordinator, as interim YFC coordinator to convene various meetings and oversee data input and serve as fiscal officer until a permanent director is hired.

Pugh will be given a $300 stipend per pay period, which is effectively a $3.75 per hour pay raise, while she is the interim agency coordinator.

Commissioners also approved a new job description for the YFC director and voted to advertise the position. Bedson said the major change involves certifications that need to be obtained that deal with early intervention and the “Help Me Grow” program funding in order to meet Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities requirements.

Commissioners continue to have no comment about why Alt and Torrence were terminated. The board earlier voted to divide Torrence’s duties and hire replacements. They said on Thursday that they want to hire Alt’s replacement as soon as possible but will not rush the process.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland County 2022 revenues exceed estimates by $1.5 million