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Administration outlines CPED staffing, 27‑payroll costs and vendor shifts in budget hearing
Summary
Finance staff told the Committee of the Whole that the Community Planning & Economic Development budget for 2026 emphasizes in‑house economic development, reflects a 27‑payroll year and higher health premiums, and will shift a university mapping contract to an independent vendor at a slightly lower cost.
Finance official Kyle Mizak briefed the Youngstown City Committee of the Whole on the Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED) 2026 budget, saying the administration will rely on currently budgeted positions and evaluate in‑house capacity before expanding work through outside contracts.
"We have 27 payrolls," Kyle Mizak, Finance, told council, explaining that the extra payroll in 2026 and an increase in medical insurance premiums (effective March 1) are driving larger one‑time and recurring personnel costs. The budget documents reflect higher benefit costs where positions now carry full‑family coverage.
The CPED overview named the department’s operating priorities and noted three housing‑related contracts that are managed separately from the CPED general‑fund budget. Staff said the administration hired a new Economic Development Director and expects to return later if additional personnel requests are required after an internal assessment.
On professional services, CPED staff explained a large line item that covers occasional outside legal counsel (for complex tools such as CRA and PACE programs), brownfield inspection consultants and mapping services. Staff said a YSU staff member who previously provided GIS/mapping support left the university; the city plans to terminate the YSU contract and enter a new agreement with that contractor directly to preserve mapping capacity at a slight cost reduction.
Council members pressed about travel and training funding after prior years’ travel was driven in part by chief‑of‑staff travel with the mayor. CPED said roughly two‑thirds of the prior travel line covered chief‑of‑staff travel and that the remaining travel funds will be available for day‑trip trainings and conferences intended to add value to the department’s work.
The administration framed the professional‑services budget as a placeholder that allows the city to tap specialized legal or technical expertise only when necessary; staff cited prior use of outside counsel on CRA matters as an example. The presentation closed with a commitment to return with any personnel requests after further review.
The Committee scheduled subsequent budget hearings covering larger departments, warning that some future presentations will show much larger year‑over‑year increases because of the 27th payroll and benefit changes.
