MANSFIELD — Richland County finances are weathering the COVID-19 storm better than expected, according to Commissioner Tony Vero.
Total county revenue through July is down 1.8 percent compared to the first seven months of 2019, he said, though that’s 5.75 percent off revenue projections when commissioners used when crafting the 2020 budget.
“That’s nowhere near the 20 percent (loss) expected in some counties,” Vero said.
Since the pandemic reached Ohio in March, commissioners have asked department heads to hold the line on expenses, while also not instituting any budget cuts or layoffs.
Richland County began 2020 with a $4.8 million budget carryover and also has a $1.3 million rainy day fund, though commissioners have not opted to dip into the financial reserve.
It’s a strategy that appears to be working. Vero said the county has taken in $350,000 in less overall revenue through July as compared to 2019, but has also spent about $384,000 less.
“We are very grateful to the department heads and other elected officials in keeping expenses down,” Commissioner Marilyn John said.
The county sales tax revenue was down 19.2 percent in July (based on April sales), according to Vero, crediting the Ohio Department of Taxation for its efforts in supplying counties with updated information. While sales tax is the bulk of county revenues, it’s just one of eight primary funding sources.
Vero said state tax officials, looking at early receipts, actually project Richland County will perform 8 to 9 percent better than a year ago when final numbers arrive in September, which would be about 3 percent better than revenue projections
“We are starting to creep back up, projection-wise,” Vero said.
Also on Tuesday, commissioners approved a request from Richland County Sheriff Steve Sheldon to spend $204,030.80 in federal CARES Act funds to purchase four marked department vehicles to be equipped specifically to transport arrestees and prisoners who have been confirmed to have or are suspected of being infected with COVID-19.
“The vehicles will be equipped with non-permeable transport area surfaces to reduce contamination and to aid in the decontamination of the cruisers. Additionally, the vehicles will be stocked with CDC-recommended PPE and decontamination materials for those working in direct contact with the COVID-19 virus,” Sheldon said.
The sheriff said he would assign three vehicles to patrol by shift and one to the county jail.
“The availability of the vehicles will reduce out-of-service times associated with decontamination of vehicles assigned to active law enforcement and jail transport operations,” Sheldon said. “All of the vehicles will be fully equipped and outfitted for law enforcement operations.”
Also on Tuesday, commissioners:
— approved the promotion of Missy Houghton to assistant dog warden and approved the purchase of a 2017 Jeep Renegade for the dog warden’s office. The vehicle, which will be paid for with money from the county reinvestment fund, will cost $17,995 and another $2,500 to equip it for usage.
— announced they will resume meeting twice per week after Labor Day, convening again on Tuesdays and Thursday. Commissioners had reduced their meetings to one day per week on Tuesdays shortly after the pandemic began.
