Trumbull County tourism pitch draws praise as commissioners approve routine transfers, water projects and ARPA amendment

Trumbull County commissioners on March 11 heard a presentation on the county's tourism marketing and unanimously approved a slate of routine financial and infrastructure items, including transfers of estimated 2025 sales-tax revenues to the general and bond retirement funds, a $1,000,000 amendment to an ARPA-funded home repair agreement, and multiple resolutions to apply for Ohio Water Supply Revolving Loan Account financing for local water projects.

The tourism presentation, delivered by Beth Carmichael with Truly Trumbull, highlighted the county's 2025 visitors guide and associated digital campaigns. "For every $1 we spend, to create Truly Trumbull trip ideas, it returns $6 in spending back to Trumbull County," Carmichael told the commissioners, citing print and digital distribution, photography investments and a cooperative marketing portal opening March 20. She also reported that advertising efforts in 2023'—2024 influenced what she described as $80,000,000 in visitor spending and that the office prints 40,000 copies of the visitors guide.

Why it matters: The commissioners said routine approvals and project funding decisions set the county's budget priorities and allow infrastructure work to proceed. Chair Richard Hernandez warned that carryover funds are limited and that the board will finalize budget delegations at a special meeting Friday, March 14. "We still are not 100% sure about where we will end up," Hernandez said, stressing the need to reserve funds for future needs.

Most important actions and details

- Sales-tax transfers: Commissioners approved transferring the 2025 estimated sales-tax revenues to the general fund on a monthly basis and to the general bond retirement fund in April and October to meet debt payments.

- ARPA amendment: The board authorized an amendment to the agreement with Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership, extending the period for a $1,000,000 American Rescue Plan Act local fiscal recovery fund award for the emergency home repair project through Oct. 31,…