North Royalton Finance Committee presses finance director for details on 2026 budget allocations

At a Nov. 5 meeting of the North Royalton Finance Committee, council member Mary Gorjanc pressed Finance Director Jenny Esarey for clarifications about how several restricted funds are being used in the proposed 2026 Permanent Appropriation ordinance. The committee approved prior minutes and set the budget ordinance for further consideration; Esarey asked that any additional questions be submitted by Nov. 13 so staff can respond before the Nov. 18 third reading.

Finance Director Jenny Esarey said that Fund 433, labeled Storm, Sewer and Drainage and currently supporting the Thornhurst project, retains a balance that "the monies will be eligible for other projects if needed," though she noted most storm-related spending is recorded in Fund 552 and some project costs are initially paid by the city and later reimbursed by the Sewer District. Council member Mary Gorjanc asked whether the 433 balance would be available for other stormwater projects after Thornhurst completes; Esarey confirmed it could be used for other projects, subject to the usual restrictions and project accounting.

Gorjanc also asked about Fund 434, the Fire Capital Improvement fund. Esarey said much of that fund’s revenue comes from ambulance billing and cited EMS fee revenue of about $825,875 annually; she said the fund is intended for vehicles and equipment and "there will never be enough money to cover a fire station," though some capital balances could be used toward bond payments.

On the police facility account, Fund 207, Gorjanc questioned a listed $527,000 "non-governmental transfer." Esarey explained that the wording is a classification in the budget presentation and that the transfer is a planned possible transfer from the General Fund to the jail/facility fund to avoid a negative fund balance if needed, not an automatic new expenditure.

Esarey confirmed that the EMS Levy Fund (209) primarily covers salaries and other operating costs, but it does not fully fund all EMS expenses; the General Fund currently subsidizes shortfalls. Gorjanc noted what she described as large carryover totals across funds (she cited roughly $25 million excluding wastewater). Esarey responded that many funds are legally restricted or committed to specific uses and therefore cannot be treated as a single pool; she noted that including the wastewater enterprise raises the combined total to about $34 million but stressed the restrictions on use.

The Finance Committee did not take final action on Ordinance 25-155 at the Nov. 5 special meeting. Esarey asked council members to submit any further questions by Nov. 13 so staff can prepare responses ahead of the Nov. 18 Finance Committee consideration on third reading. The committee approved the Oct. 21 minutes and adjourned at 7:01 p.m.