Pre-meeting release 11/26

Commissioners to continue capital budget discussion Tuesday
Appropriations and future schedule also on agenda

[Tiffin, OH Nov. 26, 2018] – After the commissioners approved most of their General Fund budget last week, the discussion is to continue Tuesday morning to finalize the non-General Fund budget’s Capital Improvement Fund line.
Seneca County Building and Grounds Maintenance Supervisor John Logsdon joined the board last week and will be present again at 9 a.m. Tuesday for an hour-long work session to focus on prioritizing future capital improvement projects. The capital fund includes future equipment and vehicle purchases as well as building maintenance projects.
One project to be funded next year through the Capital Projects Fund is the purchase of new voting machines, on the heels of a mandate from the state secretary of state’s office. The price of the machines is unknown, but the county has put aside $500,000 for the purchase. The state also is to contribute about $640,000 for the machines. The machines also come with a roughly $60,000 annual maintenance fee.
The capital fund has about $259,000 available for other proposed projects.
Although the board did approve most of the General Fund budget last week, there are still a few matters to discuss before the end of the year. An update to the sheriff’s office budget line is to be made, but it will not significantly change the final numbers. General Fund expenditures are expected to be about $17.41 million, with revenue certification checking in at $17.8 million.
The county also could still agree to fund increases for Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership and Fostoria Economic Development Corp., but no decision has been made.
TSEP currently is funded at about $17,000 and FEDC currently is funded at about $8,750 for next year. Both could be in line for more funding, but discussions are to continue before any decisions are made.
In other action, a proposal from CT Consultants is to be considered. The board asked for a cost estimate from the company for a plan that would consider future property and real estate management for buildings owned by the county south of the city of Tiffin and in downtown Tiffin.
During appropriations, the board is to consider:
* A $10,000 and a $5,000 supplemental appropriation on behalf of the sheriff’s office.
* A $57,571 supplemental appropriation for an advance to the Community-Based Correctional Facility Fund.
* Approval of critical infrastructure projects for the Village of Republic.