Ohio County commissioners trim budget and push staff to shift reserves as revenue outlook improves

Ohio County commissioners spent a full workday narrowing gaps in the 2026 budget, identifying more than a quarter‑million dollars of targeted reductions and fund shifts while asking department heads for documentation of fund balances and one‑time expenditures.

The commission focused on three pressure points: the county’s exposure to state “circuit‑breaker” adjustments, the sheriff and public‑safety budget, and highway paving and stone purchases. Staff reported the county still faces roughly $116,000 in circuit‑breaker relief obligations but said state income‑tax receipts (LIT) are coming in stronger than earlier projections, which eased some pressure on commissioners.

Consultant Jackie, joining by phone, urged a cautious, staged approach to using fund reserves. “You could easily take $20,000 off of that” she told commissioners when discussing reassessment cash‑operating balances, recommending modest reductions this year and a multi‑year glide rather than one large cut. Jackie also flagged health‑department and reassessment operating balances where modest adjustments could free up money for County General without creating unsustainable ongoing obligations.

The board agreed to move several one‑time items out of County General where permitted. They tentatively approved shifting a one‑time election conversion cost — roughly $10,008 — to riverboat funds so the clerk can deploy a new ballot‑printing machine that would allow smaller, on‑demand print runs and the option of voting‑center operations. Commissioners also discussed moving some gas, oil and vehicle‑related costs between general and dedicated law‑enforcement levies to better match recurring costs with recurring revenue.

Highway Superintendent briefed the board on planned projects and current balances. Commissioners noted large restricted balances in highway funds and suggested using those accumulated reserves for major road work rather than leaving them idle; one commissioner observed the county has amassed hundreds of thousands of dollars in highway cash in recent years. The board agreed to consider consolidating cinder/stone lines and to allow the superintendent to use available restricted funds for planned paving and bridge work, subject to legal and administrative checks.

Juvenile and jail housing costs drew attention: commissioners recorded unusually high juvenile housing expenditures year‑to‑date and approved temporary transfers between department funds to cover urgent needs while directing staff to identify sustainable options. The board also asked the 9‑1‑1 center’s not‑for‑profit manager to provide a full report of the facility’s cash balance and recent expenditures after questioning a request for an additional increase in utility support.

On several personnel items, commissioners reiterated that the formal salary‑ordinance process governs raises and hires. Departments that missed advertised deadlines were told raises or new positions submitted late are not guaranteed. For new hires already planned, the county will fund the positions at the amounts submitted rather than grant extra mid‑year increases.

In a procedural motion near the end of the session, the commission voted to continue the work session at the scheduled follow‑up; staff were directed to deliver requested fund‑by‑fund reconciliations and to return with a compact list of remaining options for the board’s final vote.

Next steps: staff will provide a written reconciliation of restricted versus unrestricted balances in highway, riverboat and 9‑1‑1 funds, a breakdown of the 9‑1‑1 facility’s cash and spending, and a list of one‑time items recommended for riverboat funding. The commissioners expect to reconvene to finalize the 2026 appropriations after receiving those documents.