Post-meeting release 10/6/22

Commissioners receive budget request, General Fund financial reports Thursday

[Tiffin, OH – Oct. 6, 2022] – The Seneca County Board of Commissioners heard from Mary Beth Albright from the Ohio State University Extension Office Thursday morning concerning the agency’s budget request for 2023.
Albright, who is an area leader of five counties and an educator, thanked the commissioners for spending time with OSU Extension Director Jackie Wilkins earlier this year when she visited Seneca County.
Albright also informed the commissioners that OSU Extension had submitted its budget request, which includes the reinstatement of the agricultural and natural resources educator position.
Halle Williams previously held the position since October 2018.
For about three years, the position was funded half by the county and half by the university.
In October 2021 Albright was joined by colleague Jeff McCutcheon during a board session to ask the commissioners to pay the entire cost of the position.
Due to budgetary constraints, the commissioners did not renew the position in the 2022 budget. No decision was made Thursday, but the board agreed to consider it with all other requests this budget season.

In other action, County Fiscal Officer Barb Patterson updated the board on the General Fund financial report from September.
In September, General Fund revenue was about $1.6 million, while expenses were reported at about $1.8 million. For the year so far through September, Patterson said revenue was about $16.4 million while expenses were recorded at about $16 million. The expenses appear inflated because about $2 million was moved to capital projects and the Budget Stabilization Fund.
County Assistant Administrator/Clerk Kylie Garner added that budget requests are due from county departments on Tuesday, Oct. 10th.

In other news, the commissioners agreed to participate as an official member of the Tiffin-Seneca Heritage Festival Committee in future years. The board did not decide which member would take the spot, but efforts are ongoing to organize all committee assignments and appointments for 2023.
The commissioners were asked to serve on the board by Mary Lewis, whom the board also congratulated Thursday morning for being honored by Main Street Ohio this week.
Lewis is one of four different Seneca County award winners. She was given the Spirit of Main Street Award by the organization.
This Spirit of Main Street award is presented to an individual who has dedicated their time, effort, and expertise toward helping their Main Street program transform and thrive.
In new business, the board approved all financial appropriations and resolutions from the meeting agenda.