Akron Ohio News - Committee moves forward on BOE budget

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Committee moves forward on BOE budget

8/9/2012 - West Side Leader

By Kathleen Folkerth

DOWNTOWN AKRON — Compromise may be on the horizon as Summit County Council is set to adopt this year’s budget for the Summit County Board of Elections (BOE).

On Aug. 6, Council’s Finance Committee discussed and recommended Council adopt a resolution regarding the budget, which would be nearly $6.2 million for the year.

The amount is more than the $4.7 million originally offered by the Executive’s Office but less than the $9.3 million the BOE originally requested for this year, which BOE officials said will require a high level of funding due to the presidential election.

Jason Dodson, chief of staff for County Executive Russ Pry, said all four BOE members have “commented favorably” about the proposed budget amount.

Dodson said that during the last eight months there have been several meetings between Pry’s office and the BOE, and the two parties went back and forth on budget amounts, eventually coming to an agreement.

But Dodson said the Executive’s Office does not want the BOE to take its offer as an indication that it needs to make no further spending reductions.

“We still believe there are operating efficiencies through technology … but at this point in time they will not be instituted by November,” Dodson said.

He added that one area the BOE continues to see as an issue when comparing its operation to those of similar counties is that those counties use touch-screen technology for voting, rather than optical scan machines, and their costs of doing elections is less. In Montgomery County, Dodson said, the elections budget is lower by about $3 million.

Dodson said he couldn’t speculate as to how much it would cost to switch systems but added it would mean an up-front investment by the county.

Brian Nelsen, director of finance and budget for the county, said the BOE is increasing its budget for part-time employees to work on absentee ballots for the Nov. 6 General Election, as there is the expectation that more people will be taking advantage of that this year.

Dodson said Joe Masich and Kim Zurz, BOE directors, are expected to be at next week’s Council meeting to answer questions before Council votes.

Also Monday, the Planning and Economic Development Committee recommended Council adopt a resolution to allow the Department of Development to oversee the Summit County Land Reutilization Corp. land bank.

Dodson said by setting up the land bank in this way, there will be no new staff necessary to hire to oversee the program, which is getting $3.8 million from the Ohio Attorney General’s office to demolish abandoned structures countywide.

He also presented a spreadsheet to the committee to show where the bulk of the funds would be funneled. Akron will get the most, nearly $4 million, which would allow the city to address between 529 and 794 vacant properties. Copley would receive $141,758 to address between 19 and 29 structures; Fairlawn would receive $55,387 to address between seven and 11; Cuyahoga Falls would receive $53,014 to address between seven and 11; Norton would receive $55,335 to address between seven and 11 properties; Bath would receive $17,500 to address two or three; and Richfield Village, Richfield Township, Boston Township and Peninsula Village would each receive $7,500 to address one property in each community.

Communities were being notified of the amounts this week and were asked to sign a sub-agreement to participate, Dodson said.

He added that Akron and Barberton already have begun tearing down some structures as part of the program. Between May 1 and Aug. 1, Akron addressed 55 properties.

During the Rules Committee meeting, the committee put on time an amended ordinance to make the county’s Animal Control ordinances adhere to changes in state law as a result of Substitute House Bill 14. There are new designations for nuisance, dangerous and vicious dogs.

Dodson added there could be additional changes suggested due to changes in exotic animal laws in the state.

In other business, the Planning and Economic Development Committee recommended Council adopt a resolution accepting the Ridgewood Crossing No. 2 Replat on Ridgewood Road near Interstate 77 in Copley. A Conrad’s Tire location is planned for the area, according to the legislation.

Council will meet Aug. 13 at 5 p.m. for caucus and 5:05 p.m. for the regular meeting in Council Chambers on the seventh floor of the Ohio Building, 175 S. Main St.

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