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Trumbull County commissioners begin 2025 budget workshop; staff outline reserves, MCO funds and next steps
Summary
County finance staff walked commissioners through the 2025 general fund summary, including a roughly $7.2 million beginning cash balance (which includes a $2 million donation), $15 million in reserves, and the non‑replenishing MCO/Medicaid settlement fund; commissioners scheduled follow‑up budget work.
County finance staff presented an overview of the 2025 operating budget and reserves at the second portion of Thursday’s meeting, asking commissioners to give direction on percentages to allocate to departments so staff can prepare detailed appropriation figures.
Christine (Christie) and other finance staff told commissioners the 2025 starting cash balance was approximately $7.2 million; that total included a $2 million donation noted by commissioners as reserved for special projects. Staff highlighted carryover encumbrances from prior years, large pending purchase orders, and that certain reserve funds — notably the Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO) settlement fund — are limited, non‑replenishing sources. "You want to make sure that you budget properly and you have enough," Christie said as she urged conservative estimates of receipts.
Staff summarized estimated resources at roughly $61.9 million and total to be appropriated at about $66.5 million when combined with unencumbered fund balance. Commissioners were briefed on the composition of pooled county cash and how interest income is distributed quarterly; finance staff said approximately $5.9 million was earned in investment interest in 2024 and most of that flowed into the general fund.
The presentation outlined mandated appropriations (such as contributions to Job & Family Services, the tuberculosis unit and veterans services), discretionary requests from county departments and non‑county entities, and several large capital or reserve draws previously discussed (for example Valley Vision and sheriff radio and body camera projects). Staff recommended commissioners adopt a percentage approach for preliminary allocations and then allow departments to adjust their line items to meet the total allowed amount.
Commissioners discussed specific line items — including the commissioners’ contingency, maintenance, building services and the sheriff’s projected payroll — and raised concerns about overtime, union contract effects and long‑term health‑insurance cost increases. The county attorney and staff also discussed a 2019 Attorney General opinion about Tax Map/GIS funding and told commissioners they were working on legal and labor aspects to ensure compliance.
The commissioners agreed to schedule a focused follow‑up session to continue the budget discussion; staff and commissioners discussed meeting Wednesday, Jan. 22, for additional work. Staff will return with department‑specific allocations based on the board’s chosen percentage and with a spreadsheet tracking the $2 million donation earmark.
