Warren gets lion’s share

Community leaders want more local government funds; question why city got so much of $3.4M

WARREN -- Some local community leaders are questioning why Warren is set to receive more in state allocated local government funds than other cities, townships and villages in Trumbull County.

A formula established in 2000 by the Trumbull County Budget Commission has Trumbull County receiving 50% of the local government funds; Warren, 16.5%; and the other area communities receiving a portion of the remaining 33.5%.

The area is projected to receive $6.8 million in local government funds, with half, $3.4 million, going to Trumbull County. Warren's allocation is $1.1 million and the remaining $2.2 million will be divided among the other 34 cities, townships and villages in the county. The division is based on population compared to the population of the county as a whole, minus Warren's population.

Tom Shay, fiscal officer for Braceville and committee chair for the Trumbull County Township Association, wants to know why Warren is set to receive a disproportionate amount of dollars, especially since its population has been declining over the past 20 years.

"This means that all subdivisions, except Warren,would receive approximately $14 per person, with Warren receiving nearly $29 per person," Shay said.

Warren, according to the 2020 census, has a population of 39,201 residents.

Braceville, which has a population of 2,467 residents, is projected to receive $34,955 based on its 2020 census population.

There is no reason Niles residents should receive less in local government funds than Warren residents, Shay said. Niles, which has a population of 18,443, is projected to receive $260,554 based on its 2020 census population.

"Our county is experiencing a decline in population, a trend that is mirrored in several political subdivisions. However, Warren, despite its significant population decline, has been able to lock in a funding rate that is disproportionately higher than that of other subdivisions. This, in my view, is inherently unfair to every political subdivision within the county," Shay said.

"A fair and just distribution of funds based on population would ensure that each community receives an allocation that accurately reflects its needs and challenges.

This approach promotes equality and allows for a more efficient and effective use of resources to address the specific requirements of each political subdivision," he said.

Shay is encouraging community leaders in other subdivisions to send letters and emails to the budget commission questioning the distribution of the money.

Vienna Trustee Jeff Pegg agrees the local government fund money should be distributed fairly.

"A person is a person. Every vote in Warren is no more or less important than the votes of people in Vienna," Pegg said.

Warren Auditor Vince Flask said he did not know why the city receives a greater percentage of local government funds than other Trumbull communities.

"Whatever agreement was made was before my time," Flask said.

The budget commission's next scheduled meeting is 10 a.m. Monday in the office of Trumbull County Auditor Martha Yoder on the 2nd floor.

Trumbull County Auditor Martha Yoder said the commission is unlikely to set any possible changes in local government fund distribution for 2024.

Any effort to change the distribution likely will not take place until 2025.

A percentage of the local government funds are distributed once a month, according to Yoder.