Holmes commissioners approve 2024 appropriations
When it comes to operating the county budget for the Holmes County commissioners, it all begins with a stable and accurate appropriations budget that defines the expenses appropriated to each of the county departments at the beginning of each new year.
On Monday, Jan. 22, the Holmes County commissioners convened in the Old Jail meeting room in Millersburg and passed a resolution adopting the 2024 annual appropriations.
The total county appropriations for 2024 came in at $27,700,493.56, with a total requested from county departments of $28,983,666.85.
This compares favorably to last year’s appropriations of $27,800,507.97.
“This is one of the most important things we do,” commissioner Joe Miller said. “If the commissioners must balance the budget and if we don’t make the provisions to have a good budget, for all of the elected officials, law enforcement, the judges and everybody, then the county can’t operate properly.”
This year’s appropriations include a 4% raise across the board for all county employees, something the commissioners were pleased to provide for a group they believe continues to exhibit good judgment in spending and a willingness to work well together for the sake of the people of Holmes County.
Miller said that will hopefully continue to attract quality people seeking employment in the county offices.
Commissioner chairman Dave Hall said he appreciated all of the work that went into creating the 2024 budget.
“It’s a solid budget, and we do have unappropriated funds available, but those are important to have in reserve,” Hall said. “We never know when the state may start cutting budgets, so it’s good to have that in our wheelhouse. The county is very healthy, and we appreciate all of the elected departments and official heads who worked hard with us on this budget. It’s a strong, fiscally conservative budget.”
Bob Sigler, Holmes County commissioner deputy clerk, said it was a strong and stable beginning to the new year.
“We’re fortunate to have people working together on the budget process every year,” Sigler said. “It goes well. It’s very decisive, and that makes it a lot smoother and easier to crunch all of these numbers.”
Miller said the commissioners pour over the budget several times before it is adopted to make sure they haven’t missed anything and that all of the numbers are where they should be for each department.
He said having a strong budget and being able to build the new health department building without borrowing a dime are encouraging signs that the local economy is strong.
He said the county is blessed with strong businesses that bring in solid sales tax numbers that enhance the county’s ability to remain financially strong.
“All you have to do in Holmes County is give an opportunity to the people and they will make it happen,” Miller said.
In addition, Miller said he was grateful to the many county department heads who were fiscally responsible and took the time to turn money back in at the end of the year that they had not used.
He said in a world where many people and departments often take the “use it or lose it” approach, it was refreshing to see department heads being frugal, something that has been the case for many years.
“Our people turn money back in, and we give it right back to them,” Miller said. “They trust us, and we trust them.”
Hall said forward thinking has helped the county create a strong carry-over to each following year.
“That’s the trust and working relationship we have with our elected officials and department heads,” Hall said.
A shining example of the departments giving unused funds back at the end of the year comes with the budget report.
Last year the commissioners appropriated more than $27.8 million to county departments, and the general fund expenses at the end of 2023 were only $19.26 million, showing the departments were being wise and frugal in their spending. In many cases the commissioners were able to meet or exceed each department’s requests for the coming year.
