Delhi trustees adopt $34.18 million 2025 budget, approve pay and spending authorities and multiple nuisance contracts

Delhi Township trustees on Dec. 18 adopted a $34,176,579.43 spending plan for fiscal 2025, approved annual pay-rate and spending-authority resolutions and passed a series of routine vendor and nuisance-abatement measures, the board said during a public hearing and subsequent meeting business.

The trustees closed a public hearing on the 2025 appropriations and passed Resolution 2024-191, the formal appropriation ordinance, after department-head briefings and prior budget work sessions. Fiscal figures discussed during the hearing showed a rise in tax increment financing (TIF) revenue tied to property value increases and final closeout work on Delhi Town Square (DTS).

Why it matters: the appropriation and related resolutions set next year’s legal spending limits, authorize short-term contracting and preserve the township’s ability to pay payroll and vendors on Jan. 1, 2025. The trustees also approved separate resolutions to set pay rates and grant limited spending authority that the administration said will allow routine contracts and utilities to continue without administrative delay.

The board’s action

- The board adopted Resolution 2024-191, making appropriations for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2025. "This is the final policy document that gets our budget in place for 2025," Township Administrator Mister Miller said before the vote. The roll call recorded Missus Seavie: Yes; Mister Davis: Yes; Missus Stearts: Yes. Resolution adopted.

- The trustees adopted Resolution 2024-192 establishing pay rates for 2025, and Resolution 2024-193 authorizing the township administrator to spend amounts greater than $10,000 on behalf of the township in 2025 (spending authority effective Jan. 1, 2025). Both were passed by roll call (Seavie/Davis/Stearts: Yes).

- The board opened and closed a public hearing on the 2025 re-appropriations budget; the hearing record and materials were presented and the board voted to close the hearing by voice vote.

TIF revenue, Delhi Town Square and reserves

Township staff told trustees that net TIF expenditures planned for 2025 are approximately $6.5 million, down from about $8.2 million the prior year. The administration reported an increase in TIF revenue year over year from roughly $5.88 million in 2023 to about $6.55 million in 2024 because of rising property values, with a healthy reserve above $1 million retained for unforeseen capital needs. Administrator Miller said the township expects a $750,000 grant earmarked for Delhi Town Square to be finalized in January 2025 and that DTS closeout work and some warranty payments may extend into next month.

Departments, salaries and insurance costs

Department heads outlined major drivers of next year’s budgets: salary and benefit increases, notably a reported 30.8% rise in hospitalization/medical costs that the administration said resulted from large claims in the current plan year. The police budget is set at $6.9 million for 2025 (an 8.5% increase), with personnel costs comprising roughly 86% of the department total; the fire combined funds total about $8.5 million and reflect higher training and retirement-related costs. Parks, zoning, public works and other department budgets were described as largely maintenance-level, with some planned carryovers for site improvements (for example, dog park and pickleball amenities) and capital set aside for a 2026 road project.

Other votes and housekeeping measures ("Votes at a glance")

The trustees passed a series of mostly procedural resolutions and motions during the meeting including vendor contracts, nuisance abatements and other routine items. Major passed items included:

- Resolution 2024-189: amending appropriations for year-end adjustments and declaring an emergency (passed by roll call: Seavie/Davis/Stearts: Yes).

- Resolution 2024-193: authorizing the township administrator to spend greater than $10,000 on behalf of the township for fiscal year 2025 (passed by roll call: Seavie/Davis/Stearts: Yes).

- Resolution 2024-194: supporting participation in the America250OH (America 250) program and authorizing application for the $5,000 planning grant to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary (passed by roll call: Seavie/Davis/Stearts: Yes).

- Resolution 2024-195: contract with Miami Town Auto Parts & Recycling, Inc. for removal/storage/disposal of junk motor vehicles under Ohio Revised Code §505.871 (passed by roll call: Seavie/Davis/Stearts: Yes).

- Resolution 2024-196: contract with Jim Cannoli d/b/a Jek Construction LLC for nuisance abatement and dangerous structure repairs (passed by roll call: Seavie/Davis/Stearts: Yes).

- Resolutions 2024-197 through 2024-202: a group of property-specific nuisance declarations and actions (examples: 48100 Lehi High Pike; 266 Jupiter Drive; 5789 Duveen Way; 306 Anderson Ferry Road; removal/cleanup assessments at 582 Greenwell Avenue). Each of those resolutions was introduced, dispensed with a second reading and passed by roll call (Seavie/Davis/Stearts: Yes) to allow the township to continue nuisance procedures or to certify abatement costs to the county auditor.

- Personnel housekeeping: the board accepted voluntary resignations from seasonal parks and recreation workers Andrew J. Kapplinger (effective Nov. 28, 2024), Michael J. Kloepfer (effective Nov. 10, 2024) and Louis J. Nye Jr. (effective Nov. 11, 2024). Motions to accept each resignation were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

What trustees said

Trustee Seby, summarizing the township’s recent outreach and events, said the Dec. 7 parade and event at Delhi Town Square was well attended: "I think a good time was had by all," Seby said during trustee correspondence.

The administration emphasized that many budget line items include carryovers and that department heads typically do not spend the full appropriation. The trustees were reminded that some figures (for example, bond payments and TIF transfers) appear in multiple fund tallies and that certain amounts are double-counted across internal schedules.

Background and next steps

The appropriation ordinance and the associated pay and spending-authority resolutions are effective for the 2025 fiscal year and establish the legal framework for township expenditures. The administration said it will continue DTS closeout work, finalize the anticipated $750,000 grant, and monitor TIF reserves while coordinating with school partners who receive TIF distributions.

Motions that opened and closed the public hearing and the roll-call votes on resolutions are part of the permanent meeting record; members of the public may request the detailed budget documents from the township offices as part of the public record.