Poland trustees OK budget for 2027 by 2-1 vote

Fiscal officer says $700K in cuts needed for balance

POLAND TOWNSHIP -- At a special meeting Tuesday, trustees voted 2-1 to approve a 2027 budget to submit to the county auditor.

The vote came after a 90-minute discussion over how to solve a deficit problem in the police and zoning departments next year.

"We need to cut $700,000 from the (2027) budget," Township Fiscal Officer Paul J. Canter said. "The only way to do that is to make cuts."

He said it is too late to place a levy on the November ballot. He added that putting it on the May ballot could cost the township $23,000. Even if it were placed and passed next May, it would not solve the 2027 deficit, he said.

He said the township normally has a carryover balance that helps make the January payroll. The state requires an entity to have at least 1/12th of its annual budget available for that purpose. If not, the entity goes into fiscal caution.

Last week, the 2026 budget was showing an end-of-year balance in the General Fund of negative $1,678. At Tuesday's meeting, Canter shuffled some funds and ended up with a General Fund balance of $115,176 at year's end. Of the amount shuffled, $100,000 was trimmed from the Parks Fund.

Canter explained the General Fund balance was important as it is used to help offset deficits in other funds, such as police and zoning. Without the General Fund carryover balance, the township may not be able to cover its obligations in those departments.

The 2026 budget Canter presented showed a balance in the Police Fund of $81 at year's end. The low amount would draw on the General Fund to make the January obligations.

Adding to the situation was the delayed payment of the property tax. At present there is $121,398 in the General Fund and $18,666 in the Police Fund.

"If the real estate taxes don't come within the next three weeks, we will be in trouble," Canter said.

He did say 70% of Ohio townships are facing the same situation as the state is holding up real estate tax payments to townships.

In the 2027 budget, the Police Fund is looking at an ending balance of negative $678,538. The General Fund ending balance of $126,835 was included in setting that balance.

"There won't be enough in the General Fund to cover the Police Fund," Canter said. "We need to cut $700,000."

He added that a levy at this point will not head off the problem. He said it is too late for November's ballot, and to go on the May primary ballot could cost the township money. He recommended a 3-mill levy, but said cuts will still need to be made for 2027.

"We did know this was coming, we just didn't know when," said Trustee Frank DeMain. "We are paying for a 2026 police department using 1996 money."

Canter said layoffs are one way to solve the issue for the short term, but trustees were not excited about doing it.

"I don't want to see layoffs," said Trustee Ed Kempers, "but if we have to lay off people, I want to give them as much notice as possible so they can make plans."

Police Chief Greg Wilson agreed and added, "The longer we push this thing out, the harder it is on employees."

Canter said the next step is to pass the revised 2027 budget and to realize the state will likely place the township in fiscal caution. He said at that point, trustees would have to submit a plan to solve the financial issues to the state for approval.

A vote was held to accept the revised budget that contained the negative $678,538 in the Police Fund. Kempers and DeMain voted to accept the budget and Trustee Eric Ungaro voted no.

"We were given a tax budget then a revised tax budget 120 hours later with different numbers after questioning and a lot of shuffling of funds," Ungaro said. "I just didn't like it, so that's why I voted no."

Trustees will be updating the information at the regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 12 at Township Hall.