The Cuyahoga County Committee of the Whole approved technical corrections to the proposed 2026–2027 biennial budget, adopted a multi-part council amendment that adjusts casino-revenue transfers and restores portions of HHS subsidies, and voted to refer the amended budget to the full Council for second reading.

Walter Perfiaos of the budget office presented two technical adjustments: a sales-tax projection increase (from 2.5% to 3%), which Perfiaos said would add roughly $1.718 million to each year’s budget, and a cut to the capital improvement subsidy of $2 million in 2026 and $500,000 in 2027. Council President Miller moved to accept the administration’s technical amendments; the committee approved them by voice vote and incorporated them into the recommended budget.

Council Amendment No. 1, sponsored by President Miller, Vice President Conwell and Finance Chair Turner, was introduced and discussed at length. Staff summarized the changes: a revised spending structure for casino revenue (estimated at about $8.9 million annually), including transferring $1.5 million to the Economic Development Fund (reduced from the executive’s $2.5 million proposal), approximately $1.2 million toward gateway debt, and $4.5 million to general fund purposes to help offset operating costs. The amendment also added language requiring monthly written reporting from the sheriff’s office on overtime expenses and created a separate accounting unit for a sheriff community-support function. In the HHS levy accounts the amendment partially restored subsidies: MetroHealth’s annual subsidy was restored to $35 million (a $3 million increase in 2026 and $1.5 million in 2027, per staff summary) and other smaller restorations were listed for workforce scholarships, child protection programs and family supports.

Members questioned how the casino-revenue transfers would affect council-authorized programs; staff noted a current balance in the Economic Development Fund (approximately $30 million) and that some of the council’s community-development allocations would be reduced under the amendment. After discussion, members moved and approved the amendment; the technical amendments and this leadership package were folded into the recommended budget. Committee staff said OBM would circulate an updated budget schedule so second reading could occur at the council meeting the next day and third reading and adoption at the Dec. 9 meeting.

The committee then voted to refer the amended biennial budget to the full Council for second reading and scheduling; the referral motion passed and the meeting adjourned. The full Council will receive the revised budget for formal consideration at its next meetings.