BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – Martins Ferry Mayor John Davies voiced his frustration during Wednesday’s Belmont County Board of Commissioners meeting over the recently adopted local government funding formula that will guide how more than $2.1 million is distributed among local entities in 2025.
Davies says the funding formula will result in the elimination of the city’s emergency dispatch department and the closure of the city pool in 2026.
Davies and Martins Ferry City Council members challenged the fairness of the new methodology, arguing it fails to reflect the city’s financial needs and disproportionately impacts their services. Davies questioned how the allocation was determined, criticizing the lack of a need-based formula and highlighting discrepancies in community services and property values.
“We’re going to have to eliminate our dispatchers and close our pool,” said Davies, noting that while Martins Ferry may see a $10,000 increase over previous allocations, it’s not enough to keep up with growing expenses. “We’re the ones that will deal with the repercussions.”
County officials responded by explaining that the revised formula was required by a change in Ohio law in 2024. The Belmont County Budget Commission, which includes the county auditor, treasurer, and prosecutor, facilitated meetings with townships, municipalities, and park districts to agree on a new allocation model. Commissioners emphasized that while they voted for the formula, they did not design it.
“Every entity had a vote,” Commission President J.P. Dutton. “We didn’t create the methodology—we supported what the group agreed on. It was built to be more equitable and reflect input from across the county.”
The commissioners added that if the state-mandated formula had been rejected, they would have been forced to reconvene all stakeholders to reach another agreement before a tight statutory deadline. Under the state formula, the county itself could have claimed over 50% of the funds, but opted to keep its share at 15%.
Despite acknowledging Martins Ferry’s challenges, commissioners said the city is still receiving an increase in funding and pointed out that the formula will be reviewed and updated again in five years, offering future opportunity for revisions.
Davies remained dissatisfied. “We didn’t get a fair deal,” he said. “Our community is struggling, and we need to know we’re being heard.”
