Carroll County commissioners approve 2026 budget

At the Dec. 22 Carroll County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Chris Modranski presented the 2026 county budget, thanking department heads, elected officials and county staff for their preparation and cooperation.

Modranski noted that departmental requests were reasonable, aligned with expectations and contained no surprises, and he acknowledged the work of Auditor Stacy Brady, Jennifer Phillips and her staff and county personnel involved in assembling the budget.

The board approved the 2026 appropriations, totaling $18,411,000.68 for the county general fund and $34,483,538.48 for non-general funds for a combined total of $52,894,689.16. The general fund budget includes an unencumbered carryover balance of $529,747.02 and represents a decrease from the previous year, which exceeded $20.3 million.

Following budget approval, commissioners also approved a 3% cost-of-living increase for all county departments, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The increase had already been built into the approved budget.

In an unrelated matter, Clerk April Mayle presented information to the commissioners regarding the Route 9 Tower contracts on behalf of Commissioner Robert Wirkner, who was not present for the meeting. She explained that the county had been working to update long-standing contracts for communications equipment located on the tower, noting that the agreements with Smart Way Communications and Tri-Connect Communications had been rolling over for several years without revision.

Mayle said the contracts were updated to better reflect the increased costs associated with maintaining the Route 9 Tower. The revised agreements include a provision allowing for a 10% annual increase through 2028, at which time the county will reevaluate whether the rates are keeping pace with maintenance expenses. The contract language was reviewed and approved by the county prosecutor.

The commissioners approved a contract with Tri-Connect Communications Inc. of West Virginia to rent space on the Route 9 Tower at an annual cost of $7,920. The agreement runs from Jan. 1, 2026, through Oct. 20, 2028, with monthly payments beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

A separate but identical contract was also approved with Smart Way Communications of New Philadelphia, also at $7,920 annually for the same term and payment structure. During the discussion, it was noted that Aaron Jones from Pattersonville advised the county that some equipment currently on the Route 9 Tower is no longer needed and will be removed when weather conditions allow.

In other business, commissioners: 

— Approved a service order to obtain five additional public IP addresses for the Board of Elections office at the Moody Annex, with the motion passing without further discussion. 

— Approved a special hauling permit for M&M Sawmill Lumber LLC to haul over the Zaya River, supported by a required $50,000 bond, as reviewed by County Engineer Brian J. Wise. 

— Approved a road use maintenance agreement with Ohio Carrollton Solar LLC for approximately 0.043 miles of Chase Road, allowing ingress and egress related to construction of the Carroll Solar Facility. A $1,075 bond was provided. 

— Paid the bills of $229,821.92.