YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County department heads are seeking about $1.9 million more in funding from both the general fund and the justice fund than what’s said to be available.

The general fund for 2020 is certified by the budget commission at $37.07 million and the justice fund is certified at $29.85 million, according to documents provided by Audrey Tillis, head of the county’s Office of Management and Budget.

In 2019, $37.03 million was originally appropriated from the general fund, but it was revised to $38.73 million. And, $29.339 million originally was appropriated from the justice fund in 2019, which was revised to $30.473 million.

The sheriff’s office is the primary spender in the justice fund. It used $23.431 million in 2019 and is requesting $24.421 million for next year. The increase is to accommodate increases in payroll needed to attract and retain more deputies, Tillis said.

Other departments funded by the justice fund are the coroner’s office, 911 services and the prosecutor’s office.

The coroner’s office requested about $9,000 less than it used in 2019, while the prosecutor’s office is requesting about $312,000 more than last year.

In total, the requests amount to a 4.45 percent increase for the justice fund-funded departments.

Out of the general fund, the commissioners’ office, human resources, facilities department, microfilm, planning commission, Youngstown Municipal Court, Struthers Municipal Court, Campbell Municipal Court and Veterans Services Commission all asked for less money than the departments used in 2019.

Increases were requested by some departments, including a $266,000 increase from data processing, $512,000 from the board of elections, $179,000 from the clerk of courts and a $150,000 increase from the treasurer’s office.

The increases and decreases in requests average out to a 0.73 percent increase over 2019 appropriations from the general fund.

“As in the past, general fund department requests exceed certification but are reasonable when compared to the 2019 revised budgets,” states the county’s budget hearing opening statement.

Budget hearings began Wednesday and are expected to continue through Monday before appropriations are finalized.

So far in 2019, the county is on track to exceed revenue estimates in both the general and justice funds, Tillis said.

Tillis said her office is working on stabilization funds to ensure the county can handle surprise expenses and to prepare for the state’s plan to reduce funds it supplies to the county in 2021.

The stabilization fund for the general fund is in place and work is being done to build the justice fund reserve.

The addition of sales tax on online sales is expected to generate more sales tax revenue for the county, providing some relief for the reduction in other state funds, but it “will not fill the complete whole,” according to the budget hearing statement.

rfox@tribtoday.com