ASHLAND — Ashland County commissioners approved a trial budget on Thursday that showed a $3.3 million gap between revenue and expenditures.
The trial budget does not replace the existing budget, officials said.
Typically, the county commissioners finalize a budget toward the end of the year. But Ashland County Auditor Cindy Funk said she prefers to take a close look at the spending plan in the middle of the year so officials don’t run into any surprises in December.
“This is a guess-timate,” said commissioner Michael Welch.
Funk affirmed.
“It’s a good start of where and what elected officials are thinking for their expenses for (2025). It at least gives us a base on whether to decrease or increase it in our appropriations,” she said.
In the trial budget, revenue is projected to be up 6.3% over 2024’s budget. But expenses are also up — by 7.6%.
The biggest reasons for that? Insurance and the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office.
Insurance premiums, for example, have been projected to increase by $535,250 across all departments in the county.
Official health insurance premium figures won’t be known until August, said commissioner Michael Welch. He doesn’t expect them to increase very much this. But first quarter numbers show a possibility of at least a small increase to premiums, he said.
“It’s gonna increase,” Funk said about premiums. The question, she said, is by how much.
The sheriff’s office has requested wage hikes for enforcement (5.6%), corrections (11.7%), communications (3%) and drug task force employees (14.7%).
The sheriff’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Officials are also a little concerned with sales tax, one of the county’s main revenue streams. Funk projected that line item to stay flat at $7.5 million. That’s how much was projected for 2024.
Funk said sales tax revenue from June 2023 to June 2024 is down by 13%.
Ashland County Treasurer Angie McQuillen is expecting another boon to county investments. The $2 million estimation is the largest single revenue increase in the trial budget.
When McQuillen reported a $2.1 million windfall to county coffers from investments, she warned that interest rates might be cut by the Fed.
“(The Fed) hasn’t yet. So that’s why I’m anticipating another $2 million in investment earnings,” she said.
Commissioners said the county’s final spending plan will be ratified in December and reiterated the trial budget approved Thursday is a “working document.”