WARREN — Two Trumbull County commissioners agreed to sign a letter opposing proposed cuts in the federal budget that would slash funding in numerous programs that affect county residents and programs.

The Community Development Block Grant and HOME programs, which are on the chopping block in the proposed federal budget, have directly affected and served the quality of life of all 201,977 residents of Trumbull County for more than 40 years, according to Trumbull County Planning Commission Director Julie Green.

“Just in the last 18 months, Trumbull County has either expended, applied for and / or received grants equaling $4,758,214 directly benefiting tens of thousands of our residents,” Green wrote in the letter being sent to U.S. Senators Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno, as well as Rep. David P. Joyce, R-14th District. “Over the course of the last 40 years, Trumbull County has applied for and received upwards of $50 million in both competitive and non-competitive CDBG program awards used mostly as leverage to apply for hundred of millions more dollars from federal, state and local grant funding to install or repair sanitary sewers, waterlines, storm drainage infrastructure and many other important community-driven projects.”

Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer Gary Newbrough told commissioners he is concerned about the possible reduction or elimination of funds provided by Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Pollution Control Loan Fund and the Ohio EPA’s Principal Forgiveness program.

Since 2002, the county has received $35,401,094 in 0% or low-interest loans from the loan fund and $23,127,807 in principal forgiveness for water and sewer projects, according to Newbrough.

From 2025 through 2030, Newbrough said the county is planning to use more than $39.5 million in 0% loans and more than $23.1 million in principal forgiveness loans on planned projects. Although it has already been awarded some of the funds, Newbrough emphasized the federal government could potentially claw back or retrieve money they have not already spent on proposed projects.

“I am halfway through our Meadowbrook project,” he said. “We cannot allow the money to dry up until we finish the four phases of the project.”

Newbrough said Ohio EPA’s 0% loan and principal forgiveness programs are the most important funding sources his department has for everything it does.

Commissioners Rick Hernandez and Tony Bernard each noted they will sign the letter being written by Green and will reach out to representatives. Commissioner Denny Malloy did not attend Wednesday’s meeting because he was attending a White House meeting representing Trumbull County commissioners.

“On the federal level, we know they have been talking about these cuts,” Hernandez said. “Julie, the commissioner (Bernard) and I are working on the congressman’s office. These potential cuts are detrimental to residents here, especially those that are low income. We are definitely 100% against the cuts and the cutting of these funds. We will reach out to our representatives to make sure they understand the impacts.”

Bernard said the federal budget discussions are in the early stages. He hopes the cuts being proposed are all talk.

“The cutting of the block grant funds will not happen,” Bernard said. “It will not only have a huge impact in Trumbull County but will have an impact across the state of Ohio and the nation.”

Bernard said they have not had the opportunity to have conversations with Trumbull’s federal representatives to discuss what they believe will happen with the proposed budget cuts.

“Let’s just hope the people in Washington come to their senses and take this off the table,” Bernard said. “We cannot, as a county or as a state, afford these drastic cuts.”