Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Geneva-on-the-Lake council approves two 2.97-mill levies for police and fire; equipment finance vote stalls
Summary
Village council on July 15 voted unanimously to place two permanent 2.97-mill levies for police and fire on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot, approved event and lease emergency measures, scheduled a special levy meeting July 22, and did not complete action on a 48-month equipment financing ordinance.
GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ohio — At its July 15 regular meeting, the Geneva-on-the-Lake Village Council voted to place two permanent 2.97-mill tax levies — one for the police department and one for the fire department — on the Nov. 5, 2024 general-election ballot.
Council member P. J. Macchia moved to declare the levies an emergency, waive the three-reading rule and pass the resolutions; Matt Caudill seconded. Roll-call votes were unanimous for each resolution. The measures request certification from the Ashtabula County Auditor and, if approved by voters, would commence in tax year 2025.
Interim Fiscal Officer Jessi Spurlock told council that June revenue exceeded expenditures for that month but that year-to-date 2024 revenue had been about half of expenditures, noting the police and fire portions of the general fund as part of the budget context leading to the levy proposals.
Council also approved Ordinance 2024-40, an emergency lease agreement with Southeast Golf Car Company for seasonal equipment, and Resolution 2024-41 authorizing parking restrictions and a street closure for the Stuff Squeak’s Jeep Rally on Aug. 10, 2024. Both measures were adopted after motions to declare emergencies and to waive readings passed on unanimous roll calls.
By contrast, the council did not complete final action on Ordinance 2024-44, a proposed 48-month equipment finance agreement with First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company for mowing equipment. Council member Don Woodward raised concerns about paying off a loan with interest; Village Administrator Jeremy Shaffer noted a separate golf-course loan is ending this year. Although the council voted to declare an emergency and to waive the three-reading rule, the meeting record states the council "cannot act to pass" the ordinance, and final passage did not occur.
Council member Matt Caudill moved, and P. J. Macchia seconded, to schedule a special council meeting on July 22, 2024 specifically to discuss the upcoming levies; that motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m.
Authorities and references cited at the meeting included Ohio Revised Code §§5705.03, 5705.19, 5705.191, 5705.25 and 5705.26 for the county-certification process for new levies. The meeting minutes were transcribed by Interim Fiscal Officer Jessi Spurlock.
