Norwich Township trustees approve amended 2025 and 2026 appropriations to cover insurance and pension increases

NORWICH TOWNSHIP, Ohio — At a Dec. 16 special meeting, the Norwich Township Board of Trustees approved amended permanent appropriations for both 2025 and 2026 to accommodate higher insurance and pension costs.

Township Administrator Jamie Fisher said the 2025 amendment covers an OTARMA insurance cost increase and the Ohio Police and Fire Pension December payroll; she presented a five-year budget alongside the request. Fisher reported the OTARMA renewal for the township's property and liability coverage for 2026 totaled $252,776 after an OTARMA representative negotiated a $10,000 reduction. The increase reflects adding station 84, a 6.5% increase to property coverage values and a 4% re-evaluation of all buildings.

Trustee Sonny Cantrell moved to adopt the 2025 amended permanent appropriations resolution and five-year budget; Vice Chairman Rick Tidd seconded and the motion passed unanimously (Tidd—Yes; Young—Yes; Cantrell—Yes), recorded as Motion Passed #251216.05.

Fisher then presented the 2026 amended permanent appropriations resolution to appropriate additional funds for projected OTARMA increases, rising BWC insurance rates and Ohio Police and Fire Pension obligations. Fiscal Officer Omar Tarazi said he is "confident with the budget until 2030" but urged the board to continue reviewing budget assumptions in the coming year. Trustee Cantrell moved to approve the 2026 amendment; Vice Chairman Tidd seconded and the motion passed unanimously (Motion Passed #251216.06).

The minutes reflect that Fisher is working with vendors to receive year-end invoices in November to better capture budget costs; the board did not record further line-item details in the meeting minutes. The resolutions were handled as part of routine budget management to ensure the township could meet insurance and pension obligations.