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Erie County commissioners adopt budget changes, approve contracts and appoint members to regional board
Summary
At its June 10 meeting the Erie County Commissioners approved multiple appointments and contract awards, adopted budget amendments including a 15% employee health insurance premium increase effective July 1, 2026, and recorded several interfund transfers and grant actions.
Erie County Commissioners met June 10, 2026, at the Services Center and approved a series of appointments, contract awards, budget adjustments and other administrative actions.
On motions by Commissioner Shoffner, seconded by Commissioner Old, the board appointed Commissioner Old and Treasurer Caleb Stidham to the Lake Erie Shores and Islands Board for four‑year terms beginning June 10, 2026; roll call for the appointments was recorded as all aye.
The board rejected bids for the 2026 Traffic Signal Project because they exceeded the 20% maximum. The board awarded the 2026 Microsurfacing Project to Strawser Construction, Inc., of Columbus for $1,379,105.96 and awarded placing chip seal on various township roads to Henry W. Bergman, Inc., of Genoa for $199,911.35; both awards carried unanimous approval.
Resolutions adopted included contracts for Juvenile Justice Center HVAC improvements with Gundlach Sheet Metal ($1,104,225.00) and plumbing work with North Bay Construction, Inc. ($159,465.00); a confirmation of an agreement for Erie County Juvenile Court to provide detention services to Morrow County juveniles; submission of the RECLAIM Ohio/Youth Services Subsidy Funding Application for fiscal year 2027; and an amendment to the RECLAIM grant agreement for fiscal year 2026 adding a new truancy program. All were approved by roll call vote indicated as all aye.
The board authorized numerous budget modifications and supplemental appropriations across the General Operating Fund and other funds, and approved interfund transfers where noted in the record. The commissioners also adopted an amendment to the 2026 Budgetary Policies and Guidelines (Amendment No. 1, Resolution #26‑161) that includes a 15% increase to employer and employee health insurance contributions, effective July 1, 2026. County Administrator Hank Solowiej told the board the Health Insurance Trust Fund balance was about $1.2 million as of May 31, 2026 and that elevated claims over the past three years prompted the recommendation.
Other business approved by the board included payment authorizations pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 5705.41(d)(1), declaring certain items surplus, and various equipment outlays and travel requests. The board executed proclamations honoring Penny Nixon and Dolly King on their retirement from Job and Family Services and received letters and reports including a Transportation of Prisoners Report, a county monthly financial report and requests from the Sheriff’s Office related to radio communications and transportation funding.
County Administrator Solowiej also advised the commissioners they must decide by June 30, 2026 whether to continue Erie County’s additional Homestead Exemption and Owner‑Occupancy Property Tax Credit for tax year 2027; he reported Erie County residents realized approximately $3.5 million in tax savings through those programs in 2026 and projected a General Fund balance of about $12 million at Dec. 31, 2027.
The board adjourned at 10:34 a.m.
