BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – The Belmont County Commissioners approved the 2025 county budget at Wednesday’s meeting.
The budget will be made up of $36 million which comes from the general fund. There is an additional $125 million from the non-general fund which comes from sources including levy funds. The total budget is $161 million.
Commissioner J.P. Dutton explained that the largest portion of the funds will go to the sheriff’s department which is the largest department. He said sheriffs’ departments across most counties in Ohio take the largest amount of funding.
Commissioner Jerry Echemann explained the county cannot run a budget deficit and must keep its budget balanced. Dutton explained that county sales tax drives the county general fund.
Dutton said all county departments except two will have the same funding level as last year. The auditor’s office will have a 5 percent budget reduction and the commissioners’ office will see an 11 percent budget reduction. Dutton added that the commissioners’ office strives to be efficient.
Commissioners accepted a $20,000 donation from the estate of Patricia Hayes to the Belmont County Animal Shelter. Dutton said the donation would not be used for staffing. He added that some donors specify how funds will be used. He said commissioners and the animal shelter would have conversations on how these funds would be best utilized since the donation is quite sizable.
Belmont County Senior Services Director Lisa Kazmirski addressed the commissioners to thank Harry Forester for an $10,000 donation to the agency for Meals on Wheels. She also addressed criticism of her agency for not making meal deliveries during recent inclement weather. She said her department is “proactive, not reactive in getting meals to seniors.” The agency canceled meal deliveries the past two days due to winter weather and poor road conditions.
In November 2024, River News Network covered the alleged vandalism of Vince Gianangeli’s campaign signs.
We asked commissioners Wednesday if they had any information about political signs being vandalized. Dutton said the commissioners did not have jurisdiction over the matter. Gianangeli said an individual confessed to vandalizing the signs and there was a police charge.
River News Network reached out to Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan Wednesday afternoon for an update on the matter, but he was not immediately available by our deadline. We will reach back out to him.
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