County struggles with budget constraints

Commissioners outline potential cuts ahead of April 1 deadline

WARREN -- County officials are grappling with significant budget cuts as they work to balance the county's finances amid rising costs and reduced revenue.

During a special meeting Friday, Trumbull County Commissioners Denny Malloy, Rick Hernandez and Tony Bernard outlined the challenges, emphasizing the need to make difficult decisions while maintaining essential services for residents.

The budget must be finalized with a vote by April 1, and officials are under intense pressure to meet the deadline.

The county is facing a tighter budget this year because of unforeseen increases in health care costs, raises tied to union contracts and reduced revenue.

Malloy stressed that the county must operate within its means, comparing the situation to a household managing its finances.

"We have to live within our budget," Malloy said. "We're going to have to make some deep cuts here."

The cuts will impact several key departments, including the sheriff's office, the county commissioners' office, the auditor's office, the Trumbull County Board of Elections and the prosecutor's office.

These departments will need to be closely monitored quarterly to assess revenues and ensure they stay within their reduced budgets.

The total amount available to be appropriated in the General Fund for 2025 is $66,681,108.36, but after subtracting a $2 million donation from retiring Trumbull County Clerk of Courts Karen Infante-Allen, the figure drops to $64,681,108.36. The final cuts brought the budget under this amount by $436.31.

Before leaving office, Infante-Allen gave the county's general fund an unexpected $2 million gift from her office's title administration fund, which earns money from fees collected by her office.

Infante-Allen said at the time that she wanted to have approximately $3 million in the fund, which she was able to accomplish.

"I am giving $2 million to the commissioners to be placed in the general fund and will allow the other million to remain in the clerk's office title administration fund for the next clerk to use," she said.

Malloy noted that the Board of Elections, in particular, will see significant reductions. He pointed out that other counties in Ohio manage elections at a lower cost, and Trumbull County should be able to do the same.

"There's nothing special about Trumbull that makes it more difficult to run an election," Malloy said. "If other counties are doing it for less, we should be able to as well."

The Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office also will face cuts, particularly in areas previously supported by grants that are no longer available. Malloy expressed hope that the office could secure new grants to avoid layoffs but acknowledged that the county must operate within its current financial constraints.

The Trumbull County Sheriff's Office, under new leadership, presents a unique challenge. Malloy noted that the department's operations vary widely across counties, with some handling jails, road patrols and court security, while others do not.

"We don't want to go backwards," Malloy said, referencing the ongoing fight against crime and the opioid crisis. "Our citizens, especially in townships without their own police services, rely on us."

To mitigate the impact of the cuts, the county plans to leave $2 million in a reserve fund as a safety net.

This money, originally earmarked for special projects, will be held in case the sheriff's office or other departments exceed their budgets.

Malloy also addressed concerns about potential layoffs, stating that department heads will have discretion in how to manage their reduced budgets.

"We're not telling them how to cut," he said. "We're just telling them how much money they have. If they decide to lay people off, that's on them."

One of the more contentious points during the meeting came from Commissioner Tony Bernard, who argued for fairness in budget cuts across all departments. Bernard specifically said funds also should be cut to the planning commission. Malloy pushed back, citing the department's "critical role in securing grants and economic developments" for the county.

The Trumbull County MetroParks also faced significant cuts, receiving only half of what was requested. The commissioners decided to fund the MetroParks for the first half of the year while the battle over the Leavittsburg Dam continues. They plan to revisit the possibility of providing the remaining funds later in the year.

The commissioners are hopeful for increased sales tax revenue by encouraging residents to shop locally, which will allow them to provide additional funding to several departments later in the year.

Despite the cuts, Malloy expressed optimism about the county's financial future, citing potential economic growth and increased revenue in the coming years.

"I believe in Trumbull County," he said. "I think we're going to see more money come in than we anticipate."

Commissioners said the budget decisions were made with the public's best interest in mind and without resorting to tax increases or scare tactics.

"We're not going to use fear to get support," Malloy said. "We're going to do what's right." The county plans to closely monitor the budget throughout the year and make adjustments as needed.

A follow-up budgetary meeting is scheduled for March.

"This isn't easy," Malloy said. "We're in it with our employees, and we're going to do everything we can to protect jobs while balancing the budget."