Holmes County approves $27.7 million budget for 2024; $8M carryover from last year

MILLERSBURG − The Holmes County commissioners on Monday approved 2024 budget appropriations totaling about $27.7 million.

That is more than $100,000 less than last year's budget, with the largest expenditures coming from miscellaneous expenses of $6.2 million, grant payments of $4.8 million, $4.028 million in insurance and pensions and $2.746 million for the Holmes County Sheriff's Office.

Commissioner Joe Miller said the budget is one of the most important things the board of commissioners does.

"The commissioners must balance the budget," Miller said. "If we don't make provisions to have a good budget for all of the elected officials, the sheriff and law enforcement and the judges, then the county can't operate properly.

"We have a raise in there for everybody," Miller said. "We want to continue to attract good people to work in the county. It's a good budget."

Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Dave Hall agreed.

"It's very good. I appreciate all the work of the staff who were involved in the budget process," Hall said. "Compared to the appropriations from last year, there's $100,000 less than last year appropriated. It's a solid budget and there are unappropriated funds available."

He said unappropriated funds are important because " you never know if the state is going to start cutting budgets, it's good to have those funds in our wheelhouse."

He said the county is healthy, and lauded the elected officials and department heads who "worked with us on the budget. It's a strong, fiscally conservative budget."

A smooth process done in a decisive manner

County Clerk Bob Sigler added he appreciated the decisive and cooperative manner in which all the officials worked together to help make the budgeting process go smoothly.

Miller noted the commissioners go over the budget several times to make sure they get it right.

He emphasized the county did not have to borrow a dime to build the health department building, a rare feat for counties to have that happen.

"We are blessed to have business in Holmes County that brings sales tax in that we use," Miller said. "All you have to do in Holmes County is give the people an opportunity, and they make it happen."

Miller also thanked the many officials who turned money back in that was not spent.

"You've heard the saying 'use it or lose it.' That's not the case here," he said. "You turn the money in, we give it right back to you. They trust us and we trust them."

Hall added that allows the county to have a carryover, which it did from 2023 to '24, of more than $8 million.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Holmes County $27.7M budget down from 2023 - here's what we know