Summit County revenue jumps to $178.5 million with possible shortfalls in future

• At-Large Council Member and President Erin Dickinson started the meeting at 4:30 p.m. All members were present except for At-Large Council Member Elizabeth Walters.

Summit County revenue rises along with investments

• Summit County Director of Finance and Budget Phil Montgomery said the general fund revenue report for 2025 ended strong. 
• Overall revenue in 2025 was up 4.85% at the end of 2025 ($178.5 million) compared to 2024 ($170.3 million). 2025 revenue was $14.4 million over original estimates. 
• Property tax revenue increased 7% year-over-year ($2.2 million).
• County sales tax revenue increased 2.3%, and the $1.1 million reimbursement from the state ($900,000) and local governments for the sales tax holiday was received. 
• Reimbursements from Ohio Public Defenders (OPD) were up $3 million, due to increases in the Summit County Legal Defenders contract and the OPD reimbursement rates in 2025 vs. 2024.
• Real estate-related fees increased.
• Parking deck revenues are up 6.3%.
• Investment earnings were down 1% year-over-year, with 2025 ending at $21.8 million (compared to $22 million at the end of 2024.) Conservative projections for 2025 were $16.1 million.
• Montgomery said this discrepancy is due to the timing of capital projects, which allowed the county to hold onto cash longer and realize additional investment earnings. He also said that this account was around $2 million pre-2020.
  • The core portfolio (U.S. Treasury notes and various bonds) in the last 2 1/2 years has increased from $320 million (at the end of 2023) to $475 million (at the end of 2025).

(Editor’s note: These numbers are slightly different than the amount Montgomery shared during the meeting,. He clarified that he misspoke on the investment numbers.) 

“We’ve got everything very liquid,” Montgomery said. He said the increase in value was due to investing more cash in the portfolio itself.

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Expenditures on the rise in 2026

• Montgomery said expenditures are increasing this year. 
• Salaries increased from $67.7 million in 2024 to $71.2 million in 2025, about $80,000 greater than anticipated. 
• The county is $2.9 million “to the good” on benefits premium collections.
• Professional services costs decreased.
• Contract costs increased to $2.8 million.
• Utility costs increased.
• Other expenditures decreased by $300,000.
• “All in all, in pretty good shape,” Montgomery said. 

County holds $36 million in unencumbered cash

• At the end of 2025, the county added $890,000 in unencumbered cash to the general fund, which now totals $11.1 million. The budget stabilization fund went untouched and is at $25.3 million.
• The county has $36.4 million in unencumbered cash. This is 20.5% of operating expenses. 

Five-year forecast hints at deficit spending

• 2026 and 2027 will see some additions to the unencumbered cash, according to forecasts. 
• In 2028 and 2029, Montgomery forecasted some deficit spending if the county “stays business as usual.”  
• Forecast is a conservative approach, he said, that assumes moderate growth, and expects 2%-3% in normal operating costs. Health care cost premium increases are forecast at 7.5% in 2026 and then 5% from 2027-2029.
• Montgomery said the forecast is based on historical data, “gut feeling” and other factors. 
• Investment earnings and sales tax are the two most volatile areas to keep an eye on, Montgomery said. 
• He said the property transfer tax was “gangbusters” in 2025 because of federal interest rates dropping, leading to people refinancing property loans.

Employee benefits fund drops by $18 million over past five years

• Montgomery said that unencumbered cash in the fund ended 2025 in the negative. Actual cash is the fund was positive at the end of 2025. The county brought in $76.5 million but spent $76.8 million, so had $300,000 of deficit spending. 
• The fund has $1.2 million in cash. Five years ago, there was $20 million in the fund, Montgomery said. State auditors said that was too much money. In the last five years, the county has lost $18 million in that fund.
• Montgomery said they are working with consultants to do some corrective action. He thinks they are “turning in the right direction” in terms of premiums collected versus money paid out. 

Group works with drug addicts

• Representatives from the the Western Reserve Area of Summit County Narcotics Anonymous (WRASCNA) said Narcotics Anonymous (NA) was founded in 1953 and has grown dramatically. They operate a free 12-step, community-based and peer-led program that anybody with a desire to quit using drugs can join. The program has levels starting with home groups (like Kent), then areas, regions, countries and the world.
  • According to demographic surveys, most people join because they know somebody who’s participated in the program. They also operate an institution subcommittee that connects with people in hospitals or jails. 
  • You can contact NA or WRASCNA at wrascna.org, brscna.org and na.org. They also operate a 24/7 helpline, 1-888-GET-HOPE, and an app where people can access literature and books about drug addiction. The publications subcommittee helps to distribute the newsletter and literature. Other ways to contact are through wrascnapr@gmail.com and (818) 773-9999.
  • District Four Council Member Jeff Wilhite asked if they work with the the areas Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Board (ADM)
    • A presenter said they provide them with NA meeting schedules.

Other motions before council

• The following appointees were present to answer questions from council:
  • M-019-2026: Appointing Tania Lodge to the Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Board.
  • M-020-2026: Appointing Deborah Metz to the Human Resources Commission.

• Item 2026-043: Setting a date for public hearing for the annexation of 1.01 acres from Coventry Township to the City of Barberton.
  • A county staffer said MT13 LLC is requesting that 1252-1262 Robinson Avenue be annexed by the City of Barberton. He said the hearing is scheduled for April 27, and anybody can speak for or against. 

• Item 2026-044: Resolution supporting HB-163 and SB-315
  • District 7 Council Member Bethany McKenney said a resident in Kenmore had his SNAP funds stolen. After she met with Job and Family Services, she found that this was a common issue. She said the bipartisan Enact the Enhanced Cybersecurity of SNAP Act would add chips to SNAP cards to prevent theft.
    • Ford said $18 million is annually stolen from SNAP in Ohio, and there is no recourse or repayment if funds are stolen. He said this proven technology used for bank cards would prevent millions in theft. 
    • District 1 Council Member Rita Darrow asked for this to be sponsored by council as a whole.
    • Darrow asked what the cost of the chips might be.
      • A staffer said it would cost $3 million to activate statewide. 

• Item 2026-045: Approving funds appropriations for 2026:
  • Montgomery said this appropriates $13,000 for probate court, allows for internal equipment leasing where the county buys equipment and leases it to departments, appropriates information technology funds, zeros out capital project funds from finished projects, modifies a Common Pleas Court grant, transfers $2.5 million to close engineering projects, and appropriates two small grants from the domestic relations court. This totals $41.8 million in appropriations.

Council hears new legislation through first and second readings

• Dickinson started the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.
• The previous meeting minutes passed unanimously.

First readings

• M-019-2026 passed unanimously
• M-020-2026 passed unanimously
• Item 2026-043: passed unanimously with suspension of the rules
• Item 2026-044: passed unanimously with suspension of the rules
• Item 2026-045: passed unanimously with suspension of the rules

The following items were read by the clerk

• Item 2026-046: Approving a 4% salary increase for Clerk of Courts, engineering, executive, fiscal office, human resources, internal audit department, IT, prosecutors’ office, and Sheriff’s Department employees. 
• Item 2026-047: Authorizing a $300,000 grant to the Summit Soil and Water Conservation District for Surface Water Management District services.
• Item 2026-048: Contracting with Osborn Engineering Co. to design the South Main Street Bridge replacement over the Vaughn Road Feeder Canal for $250,000.
• Item 2026-049: Contracting with A&H Equipment Co. to purchase a Ford T350 Transit Truck with a minicam Storm Sewer Inspection System for $248,000.
• Item 2026-050: Contracting with Wingfoot Rental and Development Co. to replace pump station 82 in Tallmadge for $1.9 million.
• 2026-051: Financing a 2026 Peterbilt Vacuum Tank Truck through Republic First National Corp. at a 4.97% interest rate for five years for $307,260. 
• 2026-052: Contracting with Enterprise Fleet Management Inc. for the buyout of 27 leased vehicles for $38,816.77.
• 2026-054: Dispersing $75,000 grants for 2026 community development for a total of $13.1 million.
• 2026-055: Dispersing $75,000 grants for 2026 community development for the Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) for a total of $4.8 million. 
• 2026-056: Accepting a $117,030.32 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services with a 25% match of $39,010.07 for a total of $156,040.
• 2026-057: Contracting with Hall Public Safety Co. to equip 15 new sheriff’s vehicles for $183,306.
• 2026-058: Purchasing 15 2026 Ford Explorer Police Interceptors from Montrose Auto Group for $662,949.
• 2026-059: Purchasing two 2026 Ford Traverse AWDs from Montrose Auto Group for $82,863.
• 2026-060: Advertising for bids for youth and adult employment programs for $3 million.
• 2026-061: Declaring March 2026 as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
• 2026-062: Declaring March 2026 as Women’s History Month.
• 2026-063: Contracting with ZixCorp Systems for Office 365 for one year for $286,250.
• District 2 Council Member John Schimdt moved to suspend the rules and pass routine legislation.
  • Suspension of the rules passed unanimously
  • Routine legislation passed unanimously

Second readings

• Item 2026-038: Authorizing intergovernmental agreements between Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, New Franklin, Norton, Stow, Tallmadge, Twinsburg and Copley for indictment services for two years.
  • District 3 Council Member David Licate moved to amend the item to list Norton as a city and not a village.
    • Amendment passed unanimously.
  • Licate moved to suspend the rules and pass the item.
    • Suspension of the rules passed unanimously.
    • Item 2026-038 passed unanimously.

• The meeting ended at 5:31 p.m.