Post-meeting release 12/19

Commissioners receive good financial news, thank sheriff for his service
Also receive bid for new vehicle for veterans service commission

[Tiffin, OH Dec. 19, 2019] – The Seneca County Board of Commissioners heard a positive financial update from County Administrator Stacy Wilson Thursday morning.
Wilson said as of Thursday, the county had about $17 million in revenue and about $17 million in expenses. The revenue estimate did not include about $734,000 to be added from sales tax to finish the year.
The county projects about $1 million in carryover, $500,000 in the county’s Budget Stabilization Fund, and about $870,000 in Medicaid MCO Sales Tax transition money from the state.
The county has been working under the impression that revenue would be about $17.4 million for this year. Since the figure could be significantly higher, Kerschner said he plans to propose adding $100,000 to the Budget Stabilization Fund and setting aside $150,000 to work toward establishing a human resources department.
Commissioner Anthony Paradiso said one of the most important jobs of the board is to keep the county’s finances in a good place. Building the stabilization fund and keeping a healthy carryover is part of that overall strategy.
These proposals are expected to be revisited at the final meeting of the year on Dec. 26 at 1 p.m.
In other business, Commissioner Shayne Thomas thanked Sheriff Bill Eckelberry for his service to the county. Eckelberry withdrew a petition yesterday to run for re-election. His term as sheriff expires at the end of 2020.
“We’ve been very blessed to have a very effective sheriff for a long time,” Thomas said. “We want to express our appreciation to him.”
Also during the meeting, the board received a $55,445 bid for a new vehicle on behalf of the Seneca County Veterans Service Commission. The bid was from Tesco, out of Oregon, OH.
Service commission director Tara Balliet said the vehicle is used to transport veterans to healthcare appointments in Toledo and Ann Arbor. She said the current bus is in disrepair. The bid is to be reviewed by the office before the purchase is made.
Balliet also thanked the commissioners for being supportive of the office, and of veterans.
“Our budget allows us to take the best care of Seneca County veterans,” she said. “In Seneca County, we’re a great team.”
In other action, Mike Dittoe of High Bridge Consulting, updated the commissioners on work being done by his firm to attempt to secure state capital budget funding for local projects.
In August, the board signed a contract with High Bridge for assistance on the state capital budget. Dittoe said this week he is to send a document to the commissioners with project proposals and he requested feedback and prioritization from the board.

During new business, the commissioners approved all resolutions from this week’s release.