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South Zanesville council approves emergency ordinance to reallocate 2025 appropriations
Summary
On Nov. 26, 2025, the Village of South Zanesville council unanimously passed Ordinance 2025‑9, an emergency measure reallocating modest 2025 line items to cover final year‑end payroll, water‑tank work, street maintenance and other shortfalls; council noted contractor delays and cautioned about future healthcare cost increases.
South Zanesville — The Village of South Zanesville council unanimously approved Ordinance 2025‑9 on Nov. 26, 2025, adopting emergency amendments to the village’s 2025 appropriations to cover year‑end payroll, water‑tank work and street maintenance, officials said.
Fiscal Officer Taylor Bennett told the council that most changes are transfers of previously budgeted funds rather than increases to total appropriations. Bennett said the General Fund transfers are intended to cover final police payroll and Medicare costs. She said the Street Fund needs $7,200 for final payroll and the payout of sick leave for an outgoing employee (identified in the record as Rob), plus an additional $4,000 for asphalt. The Water Fund includes an estimated $10,000 for anticipated tank work (pending contractor paperwork) and small shortfalls on loan payments that were not previously budgeted by the prior fiscal officer. The Refuse Fund required a $1,000 adjustment for payroll. Bennett said the ordinance requests only $11,200 in new appropriations overall, with most changes reallocating existing line items.
Council members discussed delays in getting documentation from the contractor expected to complete the water‑tank work; Bennett and Wesley Wiseman reported repeated attempts to contact the contractor but said no estimate or formal results had been provided. Council members noted that about $8,000 had been discussed earlier for the project but that updated figures were not yet available. Bennett also summarized recent health‑care cost quotes from Rankin & Rankin, saying the village benefited from lower rates this year but should not assume those rates will continue; council members acknowledged the likelihood of rising healthcare costs and potential reductions in property‑tax revenue.
On the motion to dispense with the three‑reading rule and declare the ordinance an emergency under Ohio Revised Code §731.17, Councilmember Ed Harlan moved and Bo Coconis seconded. Recorded votes in favor were Greg Gibson, Bo Coconis, Ed Harlan and Paul Lowe; the motion carried. Greg Gibson then moved to pass Ordinance 2025‑9 and Paul Lowe seconded; Lowe, Harlan, Coconis and Gibson recorded affirmative votes and the measure was declared approved as an emergency ordinance.
The council did not list any unfinished or new business. Ed Harlan moved to adjourn; Mayor Barbara J. Lloyd called for a voice vote, all present answered in the affirmative and the meeting adjourned at 11:12 a.m. The meeting record is signed by Mayor Barbara Lloyd and Fiscal Officer Taylor Bennett.
What happens next: The ordinance takes effect immediately under the emergency declaration; council members asked staff to continue pursuing contractor documentation and to monitor health‑care quotes and revenue projections going into 2026.
