Rossford administrator: general fund nearly doubled as city pursues major capital projects

Allison, the city administrator, told Rossford City Council that the city’s general fund revenue nearly doubled from about $7 million in 2020 to $13.5 million in 2024, driven by more than $250 million in new business investment and a surge in employees working inside the city.

"For 2025, the city of Rossford is doing amazing," Allison said. "Tonight I'm gonna tell you about what's right." She told the council that the general fund pays for police, fire and residential streets and that increased revenues allow those services to expand.

The nut graf: The revenue growth Allison described funds recent and planned capital work, including street reconstruction, marina upgrades, safety projects and pedestrian improvements that city officials said are intended to make downtown and school crossings safer and to support continued economic development.

Allison said the number of employees working in Rossford rose from about 4,500 in 2020 to more than 13,000 today, and she listed local employers tied to the growth, including Amazon, Murphy Tractor and Whiteford Kenworth. She said the city has seen more than $250 million in new business investment over the last five years and that the increase in income-tax receipts is used to support services.

She provided specific financial figures: the city’s general fund was "just under $7,000,000" in 2020 and about $13,500,000 in 2024; she said revenues since Mayor Neil McKinnon took office in December 2011 have increased about 165%. Allison said the Rossford Fire Department responded to 1,318 calls in 2024 and that its 2025 budget will exceed $4,000,000. She said the Rossford Police Department reported 5,659 citizen-generated calls and 3,056 officer-generated calls in 2024 and has a 2025 budget of $3,400,000.

Capital projects and partnerships Allison described include more than $20.4 million allocated to residential street work through 2025, more than $1 million invested in the Rossford Marina since 2020, and the Lime City Road bridge replacement completed in fall 2024 at a cost "just under $8,000,000," with the city's share reported as $348,000. She said the city received a grant covering $544,000 of a $600,000 pedestrian-hybrid-beacon project for downtown crosswalks.

Planned work Allison listed includes full reconstructions with new water, sewer and storm lines on Jennings Road and Hillcrest/Riverside, drainage and pavement work at Rinker Court and Maryland Drive, extension of docks at the marina, installation of a solar-lit pathway at Veterans Park and demolition of the former Indian Hills School (an ordinance for that demolition is on the meeting agenda, Allison said). She said the city expects to finish Jennings Road and to begin several other projects this summer or in late 2025.

Allison described two roundabouts planned with partner agencies: a $2.6 million roundabout at State Route 65 and Bergen Street to improve student crossings and support downtown development, and a $2.9 million roundabout at Buck and Glenwood Roads to address commuter and truck traffic near schools and industrial sites. She cited partners including the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Wood County Port Authority, the Wood County Engineer and Perrysburg Township.

Allison also summarized municipal operations and programs: a shift to a hybrid full-time fire department with the first full-time firefighter inductions on March 20, eight initial full-time hires and a council-approved addition of four more positions at a prior meeting; a veterans banner program run by Stephanie Kitzler; plans to hire an administrative assistant to the municipal building after interviewing more than 30 applicants; and a senior-community liaison at the recreation center to help seniors with services such as snow removal and minor home repairs.

She encouraged residents with questions about city projects, zoning, marina dock rentals or public records to contact municipal offices.

"Rossford is a leader in Northwest Ohio and the state of Ohio in economic development," Allison said, summarizing the presentation. "Rossford is working to revitalize our downtown, making it safer for students, pedestrians, and patrons."