Officials approve budget

Commissioners OK 2020 permanent appropriations for general fund

In recent action, the Lake County commissioners approved the 2020 permanent appropriations for the general fund as well as funds outside the general fund.

The general fund is defined as the chief operating fund of the county and accounts for the financial resources, except those to be accounted for in another fund per Ohio Revised Code restrictions.

“In comparison to 2019, revenues are up approximately $2.3 million, and so were appropriations,” said Lake County Finance/Budget Director Michael Matas.

The 2020 (entire year) projected revenues total $58,824,166 compared to 2019 revenue of $56,466,624, an increase of 4.18 percent.

The 2020 appropriations total $58,813,292 compared to 2019 appropriations of $56,431,718, an increase of 4.22 percent.

“The revenue increase is based on

estimated sales tax revenue based on current collections, in addition to taking on new entities which have secured new agreements and more work for the Lake County Building Department,” Matas said. “This, in turn, has created more revenue (for the department).”

Salary increases totaling 2.25 percent were also built into the 2020 budget, consistent with bargaining agreements previously approved by the commissioners.

Appropriation increases also factor in health care costs, which Matas said are “always a concern,” but he added Lake County Director of Administrative Services Joel DiMare has done a “good job keeping them in check.”

Continuing to focus on appropriation talking points, Matas noted that law enforcement represents a major expense category, including medical care within the jail continuing to rise significantly each year.

“Judicial and public safety (costs) represent 65.8 percent of the general fund budget,” he said.

Matas expressed gratitude to all county elected officials and department heads for their cooperation in working with the budget.

“We continue to be dedicated to the residents of Lake County to provide the best possible service with the finite amount of resources that we have,” he said.

Detailing funds outside the general fund, Matas said the governmental funds consist of special revenue, debt service and permanent improvement funds.

“These funds account for all grants and other resources whose use is specifically assigned to particular purposes, including, for example, funds for Job and Family Services, Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Lake County Narcotics Agency, and Lake County Crime Laboratory.

“Furthermore, the outside funds also include proprietary funds, which are the enterprise and internal service funds,” he said. “This includes business-type activities such as water and solid waste, and operations within the county, for example, our health care accounts, our mailroom and our central purchasing.”

Projected revenue for the outside funds total $255.7 million and appropriations total $286.9 million.

Matas said the latter exceeds the revenue due to project funds such as the utilities funds which will decrease in balance.

“The difference in those fund accounts, in layman’s terms, is we’re actually paying down some debt and paying cash for projects, and so forth.”