WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners are asking the heads of general fund departments to present budgets that allow them to continue all mandated requirements without making any personnel cuts as well as budgets in which they identify positions they will be able to cut personnel while still providing services.

Officials for the last several weeks have been attempting to trim more than $81 million in budget requests from the general fund department into a projected budget of just over $66.5 million for 2025.

Last week, commissioners walked into their budget meeting with the thought they only needed to trim another $1.6 million from budget requests to balance the projected budget. However, by the time they left the meeting, the budget differences ballooned to nearly $4 million out of balance.

During a special meeting held on Thursday, commissioners told county department heads they are at a crossroads with managing the budget.

“We would like all of you to understand why we are asking you to dig deep and scale back what your department can efficiently run on to serve the tax-paying citizens,” he said. “We want to include you in the decision-making to suit your departmental needs.”

The commissioners warned if they do not have their cooperation, the commissioners would make hard decisions regarding their 2025 budgets.

The county must complete its budget by the end of March.

Commissioner Denny Malloy said the county has been better in bringing in money in the last several years. However, he added they absorbed significant pay raises and increased health care costs that have eaten away any new funding.

Auditor Martha Yodor said part of the reason the county increased revenues was because of the nearly $38 million in American Rescue Plan Act money it had in which they collected interest.

“We don’t know what the interest rates will be going forward,” he said.

Yoder said the county was able to use just under $3 million of its ARPA funds to subsidize its budget in 2022.

“We also used a portion of Covid money to help subsidize our budget,” he said.

Yoder suggested the commissioners impose a moratorium on small capital expenses, so the county would have enough money to do basic operations.

Malloy noted the county is not poor, but it has to be fiscally responsible.

Human Resources Director Alexandra DeVengencie-Bush said the negotiated raises should not have been a surprise. There have traditionally been wage increases every year. She also noted that health costs increases should have been expected.

Julie Green, Trumbull County Planning Department, said in 2005 the county had layoffs and for six years there were wage freezes.

Green suggested the county could look at the cost-effectiveness of early retirement layoffs.

Yoder said they are looking at the possibility of early retirement buyouts, but they are in the very early stage of research.

“We want to make sure it is a valid option,” she said. “There is a cost of buying out someone’s position.”.

The county must look at the return on investment of allowing people to retire early, she noted.

Yoder cautioned the county may be in the same position, if not worse, in putting together its budget next year, unless something changes.

“People need to start looking at other sources of revenue,” she said. “We have to be ready.”

Commissioner Rick Hernandez said it may come to a point the county may have to consider layoffs.

“We don’t want to go to that point,” he said.

“You may have to,” Yoder noted.

Malloy expressed optimism in the amount the county will receive in sales and income taxes.

“I’m optimistic too,” Commissioner Tony Bernard said. “However, we have to be realistic. We have to be honest with ourselves and have to be honest with each department. We have a problem.”

County Treasurer Sam Lamacusa emphasized that 89% of his total budget is payroll costs.

“I’m operating with 11% of my budget being operating costs,” he said. “Paper costs have risen 47% from when I started. I spend 90% on mailing costs.”

“When I came here in 2001 the treasurer’s office had 21 full-time employees,” he said. “Today, the office has 13 employees. I don’t see where anything else can be done.”

Hernandez said Mahoning County has a special assessment to run its sheriff department and its 911 system.

“Trumbull County has the lowest sales tax in the tri-county region,” he said. “I believe a quarter percent sales tax would raise $8 million a year.”

Yoder said the county would have been at this place trying to find ways to balance its budget several years ago, if it did not have the $38 million in ARPAct funds, additional money from interest rates, and other Covid funds.

Tacy McDonough, director of Trumbull County 911, said they have no money or personnel to cut.

“Our department has been neglected for so many years,” she said.

Yoder emphasized even if the commissioners passed an increased sales tax today, they would only increase the amount collected by $2.6 million.

Malloy emphasized that this board of commissioners is not advocating raising the county’s sales taxes or raising water rates. However, he added, they are not going to kick the can down the road and leave it to the next board, if it is required for the efficient operation of the county.

They are having open discussions about the possibility if it becomes necessary.

“If anything, I think we’re taxed too much,” he said.

“We are starting from scratch and we are setting ourselves up for the future.”

Bernard added they have to be truthful to taxpayers.

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