ASHLAND — Ashland County Board of Commissioners approved 2022 appropriations on Thursday.
In all, the county’s $136 million heading into 2022 represents a 1.8% increase from 2021 spending. The increases largely represent small spikes in wages and the general cost of materials.
That number includes the county’s general fund of $17 million, along with $119 million coming from what commissioners refer to as “outside county general,” which is overseen by Ashland County Auditor Cindy Funk.
The largest expense in Ashland’s general county operations is the sheriff’s department, which was appropriated $5.9 million. That number includes the department’s corrections, enforcement, communications and administrative costs.
Another steep cost in Ashland County is general insurance, coming in at $2.1 million. The commissioners also allocated $1.8 million for the office’s “other” costs, including transfers, economic development and wellness projects.
The court of common pleas received $973K for its operations in 2022 and the prosecutor’s office received $937K.
The commissioners also set aside $1 million from the American Rescue Plan for 2022.
The county received $5.1 million of the federal money in June, with the second half on its way around that time next year. Governments must appropriate the money by the end of 2024 and spend it by the end of 2026.
Commissioners Denny Bittle and Michael Welch voted to approve the appropriations. Jim Justice was absent from Thursday’s meeting.
