Pre-meeting release for 4/23 session

Commissioners to continue budget discussion during digital meeting Thursday

[Tiffin, OH April 21, 2020] – The Seneca County Board of Commissioners is to meet at 10 a.m. Thursday for a digital board session.
The commissioners are encouraging residents to join them in the online meeting through the application Zoom, in light of the state’s Stay at Home Order that went into effect last month.
To maintain maximum accessibility, the meeting will be recorded, archived and streamed live through Zoom. Residents can join the meeting by computer or mobile device at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/92595230790.
Residents also can download the Zoom meeting app and join with meeting ID 925 9523 0790.
For those who would rather call in and listen to the audio of the meeting while it’s occurring, they can dial (646) 558-8656 and use the meeting ID.
The meeting also will be streamed live on the Seneca County Commissioners Facebook page.
During old business, the commissioners are to continue discussing the county’s budget.
The board’s plan, which started being implemented last week, includes 20-percent decreases to salaries and wages in the General Fund to help meet the revenue shortfall created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The cut in salaries is coupled with the zeroing out of travel budgets and the halving of supply budgets. The commissioners also instituted a hiring freeze, are in the process of re-evaluating and canceling many contracts and are not planning to undertake any capital projects without outside funding.
The board’s initial goal for the General Fund is to cut about $2 million from this year’s budget.
Thes plan was formulated following the Seneca County Budget Commission reducing its General Fund revenue projection for 2020 by $2 million earlier this month.
Last week, County Administrator Stacy Wilson said departments had submitted nearly $1.9 million in proposed cuts, with other reductions also expected to be forthcoming.
As a result of these decreases, many county offices announced last week that they would shut down on Fridays until further notice.
One office that will remain open is the Seneca County Board of Elections, so staff can continue to run this month’s Presidential Primary Election. If you have questions about any office hours, please contact the office in question.
Commissioner Mike Kerschner said these proposed cuts are a step in the right direction, and also don’t include added revenue from the state of $76,000 through the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
Wilson also said some utility costs could lessen with many offices not being open on Fridays.

In new business, the board is to consider:
* A $10,000 supplemental appropriation to the General Fund for supplies on behalf of the Seneca County Board of Elections. The funding is provided by the state to help with supplies for next week’s election.
* A $300 supplemental appropriation to the Children Services Fund for travel and expenses.