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Officials discuss using leftover ODH workforce funds for retention bonuses; ordinance needed to spend money
Summary
Board members were told Ohio Department of Health workforce-development funds may be available to local, accredited health departments and discussed an ordinance to authorize retention bonuses and other workforce spending; presenters gave preliminary caps and grant totals but some amounts in the record were inconsistent and flagged for clarification.
Board members discussed using leftover Ohio Department of Health (ODH) workforce-development funds to support staffing and retention. A presenter said that ODH sometimes reallocates unspent statewide workforce funds to local accredited departments and that those funds were being offered to locals that meet spending and accreditation criteria. "They are only giving it to locals that are accredited," a committee member said.
Why it matters: the department is considering a plan to use grant funds for retention bonuses, training, travel, contract workers and other workforce needs. The presenter said an ordinance would be required for the council to authorize spending.
During the discussion, officials cited several numbers from the grant record: the presenter said the total grant starting in 2023 had risen to $495,000 and that about half had been spent to date. In one exchange speakers described a proposed retention bonus written as "up to 3% of your salary or up to $1,500, whichever is less." Elsewhere in the discussion a different figure appeared when staff described current allotments to full-time nonprobationary employees as $9,000 for the year if the proposed ordinance is approved.
Board members asked for clarity on which employees would be eligible and how additional funds (if a larger ODH allocation materializes) would be handled. The presenter said legal review is needed to craft ordinance language that fits the grant limitations and that the ordinance would be scheduled for council review so the city can release funds if approved.
The Chair asked staff to prepare ordinance language and a budget revision showing how funds would be applied so that council can consider the item in the coming weeks.
