County adopts $39.3 million budget
2018 tax budget projects flat operating revenue
Graphic by MICHELLE FARNHAM
MEDINA – County commissioners have adopted their tax budget for 2018 which projects expenses of $39.3 million, just about $400,000 more than projected expenditures for this year.
The tax budget is a requirement of the Ohio Revised Code and is intended to help assure anticipated tax revenue is sufficient to cover general fund and bond debt payments due the following year. It also sets some real estate tax rates and is done each summer in advance of the annual appropriations resolution made early in the calendar year with more detailed spending calculations. Actual spending by Medina County government was $37.6 million in 2016 and $36.1 million in 2015.
While spending on county services has been creeping up each year, Finance Director Mike Pataky expects revenue to be down slightly in 2018. The tax budget projects about $39 million in revenue in 2018, down just under 1 percent from this year’s projected revenues.
County Administrator Scott Miller said he has some concerns about the fiscal situation of the county reflected in the tax budget. Among them are rising debt created in part by the county’s need to issue bonds to finance critical repairs to county buildings. Miller said the county may have to borrow more money next year to pay for additional capital improvements.
“I have some big concerns about our finances,” Miller said. “We’re having a difficult time funding the departments that provide the services the people of Medina County need.”
Sales taxes are the county’s biggest source of revenue and are expected to total about $12.4 million in 2018. However, that number is about $450,000 less than this year’s projected sales tax revenue mainly because of a federal ruling that reverses a state policy of collecting the tax on Medicaid services.
Pataky is also projecting a $314,000 reduction in local government funds next year that are passed down from the state. Pataky expects the county to get $1.3 million in local government funds next year.
On the positive side of the ledger, property tax revenue is expected to increase by $300,000 next year. That’s the second biggest source of revenue for the county and is expected to bring in $11.9 million next year due to a 1 percent increase in property values around the county.
Following is a list of 2018 revenue projections from various sources:
• Sales and other permissive taxes – $13,336,000
• Property taxes – $11,977,900
• Fees and fines – $5,387,000
• Other (including casino tax) – $4,200,000
• Refunds – $2,100,000
• Local government funds – $1,262,000
• Sales and services – $775,000
Operations at the Sheriff’s Department including the county jail represent the biggest expense for the county next year. The 2018 sheriff’s budget is projected to be $9.7 million.
The common pleas, domestic relations and juvenile courts also account for a big chunk of county expenses. They are expected to cost about $5.6 million in 2018.
Following are some major expenditures projected in 2018:
• County commissioners – $860,000
• Auditor – $724,000
• Treasurer – $390,000
• Prosecutor – $1,200,000
• Common Pleas Court – $1,970,000
• Domestic Relations Court – $1,190,000
• Juvenile/Probate Court – $2,600,000
• Clerk of Courts – $710,000
• Board of Elections – $1,180,000
• Sheriff – $9,700,000
• Highways – $400,000
• Health – $600,000
• Recorder – $300,000
• County Home – $1,400,000
• Child Welfare Board – $1,100,000
• Veteran Services – $1,100,000
• Pensions/insurance – $7,700,000
The tax budget is a requirement of the Ohio Revised Code and is intended to help assure anticipated tax revenue is sufficient to cover general fund and bond debt payments due the following year. It also sets some real estate tax rates and is done each summer in advance of the annual appropriations resolution made early in the calendar year with more detailed spending calculations. Actual spending by Medina County government was $37.6 million in 2016 and $36.1 million in 2015.
While spending on county services has been creeping up each year, Finance Director Mike Pataky expects revenue to be down slightly in 2018. The tax budget projects about $39 million in revenue in 2018, down just under 1 percent from this year’s projected revenues.
County Administrator Scott Miller said he has some concerns about the fiscal situation of the county reflected in the tax budget. Among them are rising debt created in part by the county’s need to issue bonds to finance critical repairs to county buildings. Miller said the county may have to borrow more money next year to pay for additional capital improvements.
“I have some big concerns about our finances,” Miller said. “We’re having a difficult time funding the departments that provide the services the people of Medina County need.”
Sales taxes are the county’s biggest source of revenue and are expected to total about $12.4 million in 2018. However, that number is about $450,000 less than this year’s projected sales tax revenue mainly because of a federal ruling that reverses a state policy of collecting the tax on Medicaid services.
Pataky is also projecting a $314,000 reduction in local government funds next year that are passed down from the state. Pataky expects the county to get $1.3 million in local government funds next year.
On the positive side of the ledger, property tax revenue is expected to increase by $300,000 next year. That’s the second biggest source of revenue for the county and is expected to bring in $11.9 million next year due to a 1 percent increase in property values around the county.
Following is a list of 2018 revenue projections from various sources:
• Sales and other permissive taxes – $13,336,000
• Property taxes – $11,977,900
• Fees and fines – $5,387,000
• Other (including casino tax) – $4,200,000
• Refunds – $2,100,000
• Local government funds – $1,262,000
• Sales and services – $775,000
Operations at the Sheriff’s Department including the county jail represent the biggest expense for the county next year. The 2018 sheriff’s budget is projected to be $9.7 million.
The common pleas, domestic relations and juvenile courts also account for a big chunk of county expenses. They are expected to cost about $5.6 million in 2018.
Following are some major expenditures projected in 2018:
• County commissioners – $860,000
• Auditor – $724,000
• Treasurer – $390,000
• Prosecutor – $1,200,000
• Common Pleas Court – $1,970,000
• Domestic Relations Court – $1,190,000
• Juvenile/Probate Court – $2,600,000
• Clerk of Courts – $710,000
• Board of Elections – $1,180,000
• Sheriff – $9,700,000
• Highways – $400,000
• Health – $600,000
• Recorder – $300,000
• County Home – $1,400,000
• Child Welfare Board – $1,100,000
• Veteran Services – $1,100,000
• Pensions/insurance – $7,700,000