ASHLAND — Ashland County commissioners approved a $17 million general fund budget for 2023, an appropriation plan that allows for several departments to increase employee wages.
“I think the biggest (thing) obviously is the wage increases. I think it was 3 to 5 percent was the range that departments were getting on the wage side, obviously because of inflation. That was probably the biggest bump up on all the departments,” Commissioner Denny Bittle said.
Overall, county general fund spending will remain largely flat next year. Commissioners approved a spending plan of $17,114,654, compared to $17,171,153 for 2022.
The department with the largest budgeted wage increase is the Ashland County Health Department. It has $662,386 set aside for wages compared to $500,000 in 2022.
Overall, including funds and agencies outside the general fund, the county has over $143 million budgeted for 2023, a 1.25 percent increase over its 2022 budget, according to clerk Nikki Hiller said.
The county’s largest general expense for 2023 is the sheriff’s office, which has around $6 million set aside for communications, enforcement, corrections, and general costs.
The largest “out of general fund” expense is the Dale Roy School, which has around $7 million budgeted, including $2 million for wages and $2.6 million for Medicaid matching.
