The Ross County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 12 approved a package of bills, transfers and appropriations that the clerk said totaled $5,419,549.33 for the week.

The board voted unanimously to pay the weekly bills and then moved through a series of line-item approvals. Action items approved included a $210,000 transfer from Board of DD operating/residential funds; $37,949.50 from the general fund to Jobs and Family Services public assistance; $257,099 from sales tax capital purchases for the maintenance department; and a $27,000 rental appropriation to house juvenile-court offices.

Other approvals included a $58,000 increase to cover juror, witness and attorney fees for 2026; a shared magistrate salary increase of $1,142; a fully funded community-service contract for adult probation ($25,152); and an appropriation to Ross County Juvenile Court for custody services (reported at $333,899.98). The board also approved a lease for Jobs and Family Services, listed at $107,600 annually, and an amendment to a museum grant program increasing a project allocation to $83,921 with no county match.

Commissioners adopted Resolution 00326 to raise the countymileage reimbursement rate from $0.70 to $0.725 per mile, effective Jan. 1, aligning the county rate with the federal guidance. The board extended the 2025 dog-registration purchasing deadline to Feb. 14, 2026 and approved a Ross County engineer recommendation to post reduced load limits on 26 bridges with spans greater than 10 feet.

Why it matters: The approvals move multiple county operations from planning to funded status for 2026, and the budget items approved at this meeting reflect routine operating needs (maintenance, court costs, personnel-related funds) and one-time project and grant adjustments. The mileage change affects reimbursements for travel by county staff and volunteers.

What happens next: Most appropriations were approved by voice vote during the meeting; departments and staff will execute the transfers and program changes as appropriated. Several items flagged for follow-up included possible re-review of departmental carryover POs and a planned work session to review departmental performance vs. appropriations.

(Quotes in this article are from meeting proceedings: the chair and staff presenters.)