National County Government Month kicks off on Wednesday!
National County Government Month is in April! CCAO invites you to join us in celebrating the vital role county government plays in the daily lives of Ohioans throughout April.
To help illustrate the role of county government, CCAO developed two videos for your use and distribution. The first video showcases the roles and responsibilities of Ohio’s County Commissioners, Executives, and County Council Members. The second video provides an overview of how county government functions and the many ways counties work each day to serve the needs of Ohioans.
We encourage you to share these resources with your constituents to help increase awareness and understanding of county government.
Additionally, CCAO created a social media toolkit with ready-to-use content to help you highlight National County Government Month across your platforms. The toolkit and videos can be found on our website at ccao.org/ncgm.
CCAO also offers a variety of educational materials that may be helpful in engaging your communities, including a sample resolution, the Ohio Counties Matter booklet and brochures, and other resources designed to inform and connect with the public.
As you celebrate in your counties, feel free to share photos with us at comms@ccao.org. We look forward to highlighting your celebrations!
Fairfield County Commissioner Levacy named chair of statewide Elder Abuse Commissioner
Last week, Attorney General Dave Yost announced that Fairfield County Commissioner Dave Levacy will serve as the chairman for the Attorney General's Elder Abuse Commission. Commissioner Levacy has served on the commission for several years as CCAO's representative.
The commission was established in 2009 to improve education efforts boost research, and raise awareness of elder abuse and exploitation.
Congratulations Commissioner Levacy!
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| Fairfield County Commissioner Dave Levacy |
Registration for the 2026 County Classic Golf Outing is open!
This year's event will be held at Glenross Golf Club in Delaware on July 10.
All proceeds from the event benefit the Research and Educational Foundation, funding scholarships for students pursuing careers in public service. Your participation directly supports the next generation of dedicated professionals committed to serving our communities.
Registration and lunch will begin at 12:00 PM, followed by a 1:30 PM shotgun start. This premier outing offers a great opportunity to enjoy an outstanding course while connecting with colleagues and partners.
Register today to reserve your spot: https://birdease.com/CountyClassic Top Top OHFA to hold virtual meeting for input on 2027 strategic priorities
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency is holding a virtual meeting with stakeholders as the agency develops its SFY 2027 Annual Plan.
The meeting, to be held on April 7 (next Tuesday) at 1:30, will review the priorities outlined in the current SFY 2026 Annual Plan and then solicit input on what strategic priorities should be included in the SFY 2027 Annual Plan. You can save a calendar hold, with the virtual meeting information, here.
The agency asks that participants review the 2026 Annual Plan before the meeting.
If you have any questions about the virtual meeting, please contact OHFAPublicHearing@ohiohome.org.
President Trump issues EO on public benefit fraud prevention; NACo and CCAO seek information on best practices
Last Monday, President Donald Trump issued the Establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud Executive Order. The task force, which will be led by Vice President J.D. Vance and comprised of federal agency heads, will develop measures to change eligibility verification for federal benefit programs, coordinate with federal agencies to implement per-disbursement controls and potentially preemptively pause funding in cases of suspected fraud, audit and ensure compliance, and promote information and data sharing between all levels of government.
These recommendations are to be made within 60 days of the Executive Order, which means the recommendations will be issued no later than June 14.
NACo is planning on putting together examples of how the 10 states that administer federal benefit programs at the county level advance anti-fraud efforts. Since Ohio is one of those states, CCAO is asking our members to share successful and/or innovative best practices that your county agencies have put in place to highlight the efficiencies that county-administered programs have.
If you would like to provide information about practices your counties implement, please either do so in a reply to this newsletter or to Rachel Reedy at rreedy@ccao.org.
NACo presidential appointment applications open until May 8
The submission window for consideration for a NACo presidential appointment is open and will remain so until May 8.
The appointments include chairs and vice chairs of NACo's policy steering committees and subcommittees, leadership and membership slots for the Large Urban County Caucus, the Midsize County Caucus, and the Rural Action Caucus, as well as other standing committees, advisory committees, and others.
You can submit applications for consideration through the NACo Member Portal.
Congress considering surface transportation infrastructure bill with beneficial changes for counties
Congressional negotiations are ongoing for the Bridges and Safety Infrastructure for Community Success (BASICS) Act. The bill, among other provisions, would expand the Surface Transportation Block Grant and amend formula funding for bridges and safety infrastructure to provide direct funding for counties.
More information about the bill is available on NACo's website.
The bill has the support of NACo, the National Association of County Engineers, and other national associations of local governments.
NACo is asking counties to express their support for the bill to their federal representatives, especially Republican representatives to increase the likelihood the bill is included in the final reauthorization package. Contact information for key staffers of Ohio's congressional Republicans can be found here.
NACo has prepared a sample letter for counties to use to show your support for the bill.
If you communicate support to your representative(s), please inform a CCAO staff member so we can assist NACo in tracking outreach. Top Mental health treatment grant available from federal government
The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications through the end of April for the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program.
The program is intended to support the implementation of assisted outpatient treatment options to reduce the incidence/duration of hospitalization, homelessness, incarcerations, and interactions with the criminal justice system of people with serious mental illnesses.
For county purposes, counties themselves, mental health authorities (such as ADAMHS boards), and mental health-focused courts are eligible applicants. Additionally, if an agency was funded under prior iterations of the grant program, the agency is ineligible. For Ohio, that means that the Cuyahoga County Community Mental Health Board, the Montgomery County ADAMHS Board, and Erie County are all ineligible for this round of the program.
Awards under the program are limited to $500,000 per year for programs serving 50 or fewer patients and $750,000 per year for programs serving more than 50 patients. Programs can last up to five years.
More information about the program can be found here. Top Each week Counties Current highlights the happenings in our counties in the words of their local media.
One story from each of the CCAO's five districts is highlighted, and on occasion other stories may be highlighted as well.
Northwest District
Defiance commissioners discuss sewer system with Paulding County
Crescent News, March 23, 2026
Defiance County commissioners discussed mutual sewer system concerns with their Paulding County counterparts during their regular session Monday.
Commissioners from both counties discussed issues with the operation of a sewer system that serves residents and businesses along and near the Auglaize River, south of Defiance and in the Five Span area.
One issue is the prevention of clean water infiltration into the sewer collection system that brings wastewater to the Defiance County-owned treatment lagoon along Ohio 111, just north of the Paulding County line. Clean water infiltration adds to the expense of treating wastewater.
According to Defiance County Commissioner Dana Phipps, both counties have infiltration issues that need to be corrected.
Another topic discussed Monday is the potential impact on the system of a possible campground expansion in the Five Span area. Phipps said the county’s treatment lagoon would have enough capacity to handle additional lots.
The two sets of commissioners agreed to meet more often than in the past to discuss sewer system concerns. The next session will be held in 90 days, Phipps explained.
Northeast District
Geauga County approves cyber fraud policy, warns employees of personal liability
Cleveland.com, March 20, 2026
Geauga County commissioners on Monday approved a new policy aimed at preventing cyber fraud, with officials warning employees they could face personal liability for failing to follow safeguards.
The policy, which took effect Tuesday, was added to the county personnel manual following recent cybersecurity training for fiscal staff.
“It was highly recommended that we institute something as soon as possible,” a staff member told the board during its Monday meeting.
The policy outlines basic safeguards requiring employees to verify financial requests before acting on them. Individual departments can add more detailed procedures as needed.
Commissioner James Dvorak emphasized the personal stakes for employees who fail to follow the protocols.
“I think employees should be aware that they can be personally liable now for some of these issues,” Dvorak said.
The policy comes as the county works to increase participation in mandatory cybersecurity training. Current compliance stands at about 87%, but officials want to see improvement.
The policy will be incorporated into job descriptions and employees will be required to complete training on the new protocols.
Central District
High winds tear off courthouse roof tiles for second time
Perry Tribune, March 24, 2026
Perry County officials are trying to find answers, after strong winds last week blew some roof tiles off the recently renovated county courthouse, resulting in minor injury to a county employee on the street below.
“We had some pretty high winds on Friday, and we lost some roof tile from the courthouse,” confirmed county Commissioner Ben Carpenter on Monday. “It’s in the same location where we lost roof tile there about a year ago as well. There’s some strange wind velocities up there. It’s from the same spot as the repair work we did about a year ago.”
Carpenter noted that part of that repair was installing special clips to better secure the tiles — though only in the areas where tile had blown off.
“We put hurricane clips on all of the repair work, so the stuff that broke last week was tile that did not break off the first time,” he said. After the wind event last year, Carpenter added, a weather monitoring station was installed in the courthouse bell tower, it recorded wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour — which shouldn’t be strong enough to tear up the tile.
“But obviously it’s not holding down, is it?” Carpenter said. “We might have to put hurricane clips on that entire section. It’s the section on the peak on the south side of the roof, right above the common pleas courtroom, facing Brown Street… That is the primary spot where we had trouble with the original slate as well. It would break off right there in that spot.”
Carpenter also confirmed that falling tile damaged a vehicle parked on the street, and injured a county staffer. The county will cover expenses associated with both, he said.
“There was an employee of the county, that piece of clay tile was coming down, hit the sidewalk and then broke into a lot of pieces, and it hit her in the lower leg,” he said. “So, yes, an employee was slightly injured, and we had a vehicle that was parked there was damaged, and we’re taking care of all this.”
Southwest District
Miami County to vote in May on 0.5% sales tax increase to build new jail
Dayton247Now, March 23, 2026
This May, the Miami County commissioners are asking voters to approve a 0.5% sales tax increase to fund a new jail.
Commission president Wade Westfall said Miami County’s jail is over 50 years old and is showing its age.
“Any form of taxation, there's never a good time to go to the voters. This isn't about politics. It's truly about safety and our current jail is, like I said, overcrowded, outdated, and it's failing," said Westfall.
If approved, sales taxes would increase from 7% to 7.5% for 10 years, or until the goal is met. Westfall estimated the increase to bring in about $10 million annually. As we’ve previously reported, the project is expected to cost about $100 million, and if the increase doesn’t pass, Westfall said the project will end up costing even more due to inflation.
“Ten years ago this could have been built for nearly $40 million, $50 million less. So if we wait another ten years, it's an additional $40 million or $50 million. It has to be done. We've been studying this now for two and a half years looking at all options and this is by far the best way to go," he explained.
Westfall also said about 65% of inmates have mental health or substance abuse issues, or both. He said the current jail doesn’t have the mental health resources they need to help in the rehabilitation process. The new jail will have 200 beds, 32 for mental health treatment.
Southeast District
Next Generation 911 is successfully implemented in Belmont County
Times Leader, March 26, 2026
Belmont County 911 Director Bryan Minder informed the Belmont County Board of Commissioners that his department recently converted to Next Generation 911 — a digital, internet-protocol-based system that will replace the analog 911 infrastructure that’s been in place for decades.
“On March 3, we went ahead and we went over to the new system that’s run by a company called Comtech that’s contracted with the state of Ohio to do the Next Generation 911, we were the 15th county in Ohio to do it. Initially last year, there were 10 pilot counties that did it, and then we opted into it after that,” Minder said. “Every county in Ohio has five years to transition over to the new Next Gen system.”
He added that Belmont, Harrison, Jefferson, and Monroe counties have all successfully switched over and are all online right now. Noble and Guernsey counties are in the process of switching over but have not yet.
Minder said that the system gives a digital circuitry to how 911 calls come in. The old system Belmont County 911 used was an analog system with copper phone lines.
“It’s an all digital, IP based system now at this time. And so what that does, it gives not only better location accuracy for callers, we can see where they are better. It will allow the system to put and transfer the call to the correct 911 center a lot easier, especially with somewhere like us along the lines of the border, with West Virginia, things like that,” Minder said. “It’s going to help to eliminate not all, but some of the transfers that happen because transfers take time. Transfers are a delay when you’re calling for help, and you’ve got to be transferred at least one, sometimes two times.”
He added that the new system is a huge benefit to everybody involved.
“It also gives us the capabilities of not only just voice to 911, but now text to 911 is now a capability in the county,” Minder said. “It allows somebody who can’t speak, for whatever reason, they can now contact 911 still just by texting 911 on their phone.” Top APRIL 1 - APRIL 9
Passover
APRIL 5
Easter
APRIL 10
CEBCO Annual Meeting
APRIL 17
CCAO Board of Directors Meeting (virtual) Top
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