Lorain County holds second hearing on proposed quarter‑percent sales tax to fund sheriff operations

Lorain County commissioners held a public hearing July 25 on a proposed quarter‑percent sales tax to provide a dedicated revenue stream for the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, with county staff and the sheriff explaining budget shortfalls, proposed uses and the projected impact on taxpayers.

The county replayed a presentation from an earlier hearing so all viewers would receive the same information. Commissioner Riddell opened the session by describing the proposal as an increase under the Ohio Revised Code to sections 5739.021 and 5741.021 to add 0.25 percentage points to the county sales tax, with revenues earmarked for sheriff operations.

The chief deputy (presenting budget slides) told commissioners the sheriff’s office overall budget for the current year is $31,232,398 and that next year’s budget is estimated at about $35,500,000. The presentation listed personnel, equipment leases and supplies as the largest line items and identified a proposed prisoner transport unit as a key new cost driver and potential area of savings.

"On a $100, it is a quarter," the chief deputy said when illustrating citizen impact; she added that on $10,000 in purchases the increase would total $25. She said the quarter‑percent, if approved, would “keep the public safety strong, preserving funds for other county needs, and avoiding future cuts or emergency fixes to fund this sheriff’s office.”

Sheriff remarks: budget gaps, transport costs and recent incident

The sheri…