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Clermont County commissioners approve vendor payments, contracts, water projects and personnel changes; budget review flags $11.5M capital gap
Summary
Commissioners approved vendor payments, multiple change orders and contracts, and two personnel actions after a budget update from the county budget director who reported a projected 2026 general fund cash balance of about $54 million but noted an $11.5 million unobligated capital shortfall.
Clermont County commissioners on Dec. 1 approved routine and non‑consent items including vendor payments, contract change orders, HUD CDBG subgrant timing changes, water‑system project actions and two added personnel items, following an overview of the draft 2026 budget from the county’s budget office.
Emily Akers, director of the Office of Budget and Management, reviewed preliminary revenue and appropriation figures and told commissioners operating revenue for 2026 is estimated "over $88,600,000" and the draft general fund appropriation is just over $87,000,000. Akers said the county projects a general fund cash balance of about $54,000,000 heading into 2026, with a policy target to keep 35% of operating expenses as reserves. She also reported an unobligated capital cash shortfall of approximately $11,500,000 and said the board will need to plan a transfer from the general fund into capital or reduce capital appropriations to avoid adopting a budget with a negative cash balance.
On the consent and non‑consent agenda, the board unanimously approved Resolution 181‑25 to authorize payments to vendors totaling $1,982,486.65; ratified an MOU establishing the Sheriff's Office Safe Unit oversight board; authorized an amendment to a subgrant agreement extending a Miami Township HUD CDBG project term; and approved multiple water resources contract change orders (including a decrease of $25,000 for the MGS water treatment plant contract and a $151,021.40 decrease on a Rumpke Road area water main replacement contract) as presented by staff. The board also adopted a resolution to advertise bids for the White Oak Road water main replacement project and approved a two‑year service agreement for printing and mailing county tax bills (annual amount not to exceed $35,000).
Added to the agenda were two personnel actions approved by roll call: the termination (probationary removal) of Chad Zink, Building Inspector I, effective Dec. 1, 2025; and an extension of the probationary period for Zachary Embree, Water Resources maintenance supervisor, to Feb. 21, 2026.
The board recessed for an executive session under Ohio Revised Code §121.22(G)(1) and (G)(3) to consider public employee compensation and to consult with counsel about disputes subject to pending or imminent court action; it returned with no decisions or actions taken.
Next steps: Staff will continue to refine the draft 2026 appropriation and bring capital requests and any recommended transfers back to the board for final appropriation action; multiple advertised projects will proceed through bid processes as authorized.
Sources: Presentations and roll‑call votes at the Dec. 1, 2025 Clermont County Board of Commissioners meeting; Emily Akers, Office of Budget and Management.
