Mount Vernon council adopts package of routine resolutions, adjusts lodging- and property-tax figures

Mount Vernon City Council on a single evening approved a slate of routine emergency resolutions — including supplemental appropriations tied to lodging-tax receipts, participation in the Ohio Treasurer’s online checkbook, the disposal of surplus police vehicles, and several internal fund adjustments — while also taking first readings on several public‑works items.

The most-discussed item was a supplemental-appropriations resolution tied to the city’s lodging (bed) tax. City staff said the lodging-tax budget for the current year was set at $75,000 while last year’s receipts approached $160,000; with a new hotel recently opening, staff estimated lodging-tax revenues could grow another 15%–20% into next year. “So we will expect to probably increase this again maybe before the end of the year,” a city staff member said, adding the city typically allocates bed‑tax receipts to tourism‑related organizations such as the Woodward Opera House and the convention and visitors bureau.

Council moved and adopted resolution 2025‑76 under suspension of the rules. The meeting record shows council members repeatedly voted in the affirmative during roll calls that followed each suspension request; for each resolution that was adopted the presiding officer announced the resolution as adopted.

Other adopted measures included:

- Resolution 2025‑77: Authorizing the safety‑service director to dispose of police vehicles and forfeited vehicles through public auction; police staff said proceeds are returned to fleet maintenance. The police chief noted several former fleet vehicles and forfeited cars would be posted on GovDeals for bid.

- Resolution 2025‑78: Authorization to participate in the Ohio Treasurer’s Online Checkbook Program, a transparency tool that auditors and committee members had endorsed.

- Resolution 2025‑79: Renaming and creating lines within an internal fund to accommodate probation grants that operate on different accounting cycles.

- Resolution 2025‑83 (first reading): Authorization to submit a cooperative Ohio Public Works Commission application with Clinton Township for the Crystal Avenue water‑main extension; council scheduled committee time for further review.

- Resolution 2025‑84: Adoption of the city’s modified tax budget for fiscal 2026 to accept county property‑tax distributions; staff said the city received about $972,000 in property‑tax distributions this year and projects about $1,266,000 next year (TIF receipts not included in that figure).

Council also adopted smaller, administrative transfers and appointments, including resolution 2025‑85 (supplemental transfers to cover departmental shortfalls) and resolution 2025‑86 (appointment of representatives to the city’s compensation review commission). Several measures were adopted under suspension of the rules to permit immediate enactment.

What’s next: items that require additional review — such as the Crystal Avenue OPWC application and the demolition contract tied to the State Route 13 relocation project — will return to committee for further analysis before any contract awards or construction work begins.