CCAO member races, county ballot issues on the ballot next week
Tomorrow, Ohioans will go to their polling places and vote on a number of primary elections and local issues. As a gubernatorial election year, one commissioner seat is up for election in each statutory county, as well as the county auditor position.
There are 101 seats on the ballot this year:
- One county executive seat (Cuyahoga County);
- Nine county council seats; and
- 91 county commissioner seats (this includes races for five unexpired terms).
Of the 101 seats, 77 have the incumbent running for reelection and 24 have incumbents who are not seeking a new term. This equates to a 76% rate at which incumbents are seeking another term, a decrease from the 2024 cycle.
With 101 seats up for reelection, there are 202 races on the ballot next week (two per seat). Of these, 53 races (or 26%) have no candidates filed, while 99 races (or 49%) feature only one candidate. This leaves 50 races (or 25%) that are contested. This represents a slight increase in the number of contested primary elections compared to 2024.
As mentioned earlier, there are 24 sitting CCAO members who are not seeking reelection. The following members of the CCAO, CEBCO, and CORSA boards, and past presidents of the organizations, are not seeking a new term:
- CEBCO Vice-President, CORSA Board of Directors Member, and Huron County Commissioner Harry Brady
- CCAO Board of Directors Member and Ross County Commissioner Jack Everson
- CCAO Past President, CEBCO Past President, NACo Past President, and Athens County Commissioner Lenny Eliason
Additionally, there are 35 county-level ballot issues across the state next week.
Thirty of these are property tax levies, with more than half (17) seeking new money. A majority of the levy requests (23) are for human service functions, with boards of developmental disability levies accounting for 12 levies, the most of any single purpose.
There are four sales tax issues on the ballot as well, two for counties and two for transit authorities. Mahoning County is seeking a continuation of its 0.25% tax for roads and bridges, while Miami County is attempting to utilize the special 0.50% authority for county jail projects. The transit authorities seeking sales tax levies are Licking County Transit and the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority.
The final county issue on the ballot is a referendum on Richland County’s designation of restricted areas for wind and solar energy facilities.
The full list of primary candidates is accessible here and the list of ballot issues here.
CCAO will distribute the results of these races to members on Wednesday, May 6, and include the results in the subsequent issues of Statehouse Report (May 8) and Counties Current (May 11). We will also provide a summary of the primary election results for the General Assembly in the May 8 edition of Statehouse Report.
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Top Top Ohio joins foster-focused "A Home for Every Child" initiative
Last week, Governor DeWine and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Assistant Secretary Alex Adams announced that Ohio is the latest state to join the "A Home for Every Child" initiative.
The initiative seeks to improve the foster care system for both children and foster families by creating a more efficient pathway for permanency without sacrificing important safety oversight.
The Ohio Department of Children and Youth will work with state and local partners to recruit and support foster and adoptive families, reduce the time children spend in foster care, and prioritize stability for youth. The ultimate goal for the program is to reach a ratio one foster home for every child in the system.
More information about the initiative can be found on its federal page or its DCY page.
Back to School sales tax holiday scheduled
The 2026 sales tax holiday is set to take place over the first full weekend of August. It will begin at midnight on Friday, August 7, and conclude at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 9.
The back-to-school holiday only applies to the following items:
- Clothing priced at $75 or less per item;
- School supplies priced at $20 or less per item; and,
- School instructional materials priced at $20 or less per item.
The traditional back-to-school sales tax holiday is occurring this year because Expanded Sales Tax Holiday was cancelled as part of House Bill 186. The key thing for counties to know about the back-to-school holiday is that foregone revenue is not reimbursed like it is in the Expanded Sales Tax Holiday.
Governor DeWine Announces Launch of Ohio Aging Compass
The following is a press release from Governor Mike DeWine.
As Ohio recognizes Older Americans Month and Older Ohioans Month this May, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Aging (AGE) Director Ursel J. McElroy today announced the launch of the Ohio Aging Compass, a free, centralized, easy-to-navigate platform, consolidating Ohio’s aging-related resources, tools, data, and long-term care information.
“The Ohio Aging Compass is a major step forward in transparency and accessibility for older adults and their families,” said Governor DeWine. “Ohioans told us they wanted a simpler, more streamlined way to navigate aging resources, and we listened. This new platform reflects our commitment to ensuring Ohio remains the best place to age in the nation.”
The Ohio Aging Compass integrates three tools:
- The Long-Term Care Quality Navigator was launched in 2024 as part of Governor DeWine’s Nursing Home Quality and Accountability Task Force. It allows users to search for and compare nursing homes and assisted living facilities across Ohio.
- The Healthy Aging Resource Hub is a one-stop shop for healthy aging information, events, and supportive programs and services.
- The Aging Data Explorer is an interactive dashboard tracking the state’s progress on key aging priorities across more than 80 metrics.
“The Ohio Aging Compass is a gateway to aging well,” said Director McElroy. “It was built with and for Ohioans. The Compass brings together practical tools and real world resources into one accessible platform so that every Ohioan can more easily find the services, supports, and care they need. It also represents a major step forward in how we use technology and data to increase transparency and accountability.”
Input from partners across the state informed every stage of development of the Ohio Aging Compass. At the Governor’s Policy Summit on Healthy Aging, more than 200 leaders contributed their expertise and feedback. Additionally, perspectives were gathered from residents in all 88 counties through statewide surveys, listening sessions, and focus groups, ensuring that every corner of Ohio was represented. Across all regions, Ohioans stressed the need for a single, trusted place to find clear, comprehensive information about aging services and supports.
“This is Age-Friendly Ohio in action,” said Jenny Carlson, AARP Ohio Director. “Tools like the Ohio Aging Compass help individuals, families, and communities make informed decisions and navigate their path with confidence. When people can easily find the resources that fit their lives, they have more choice—and more control—over how they plan and live at every stage of life.”
With the launch of the Ohio Aging Compass, the state will continue gathering feedback and expanding its features to support healthy aging at home, in the community, and across every region of Ohio.
The Ohio Aging Compass is now live at Compass.Aging.Ohio.gov.
Attorney General Opinion on fuel tax usage issued
Last week, Attorney General Dave Yost issued Attorney General Opinion 2026-003, regarding the use of motor fuel tax (gas tax) revenue to purchase (in whole or part) a fire tanker truck for a township fire department.
Attorney General Yost determined that fire tanker trucks are not an allowable use of gas tax revenue.
Article XII, Section 5a of the Ohio Constitution limits the usage of gas tax revenue to specific highway purposes. Additionally, R.C. 5735.27 further limits how local governments may spend gas tax revenue. The statute includes an allowance for "road machinery and equipment" but the opinion determines that a fire tanker truck does not fall into that category (instead, the category is reserved for machinery/vehicles used to maintain or improve roads, such as snow plows).
While the opinion is specific to township usage, since counties are governed by the same restrictions on gas tax revenue, counties should review the Attorney General Opinion.
Government web presence accessibility requirement deadline delayed by one year
Recently the U.S. Department of Justice released its Interim Final Rule (IFR) regarding accessibility of web information and services for state and local government entities.
The key provision of the IFR is that the compliance deadline has been delayed for a calendar year for all entities.
For counties with a population of at least 50,000, county websites must be compliant by April 26, 2027 (delayed from April 24, 2026), while all other counties must be compliant by April 26, 2028 (delayed from April 26, 2027).
The wider accessibility requirements are unchanged, only the compliance deadline. Counties could continue making changes to their digital presence to ensure accessibility with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
NACo held a webinar last week to discuss the extension and what is still expected of counties. The recording of the webinar is available here and the slide deck is available here.
NACo has also made a number of other resources available regarding the accessibility requirements, including a full analysis of the requirements and technology brief on web accessibility. Top State funding opportunities
The table below contains current state grant or loan programs. A more comprehensive list can be found on the Ohio Grants Partnership webpage.
Grant Program
|
Brief Summary
|
Eligibility Criteria
|
Amount Available
|
Application Due Date
|
| County Coastal Erosion Control Loan Program |
To provide financing for construction of erosion control structures in coastal erosion areas. |
Counties with Lake Erie shoreline containing coastal erosion areas:
Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Erie, Lake, Lorain, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky
|
Unspecified total, no maximum per request |
May 22, 2026 |
| Dam Safety Loan Program |
To provide financing for planning, design, and construction of dams and repairs. |
Counties, county sewer districts, and soil and water conservation districts, among others |
Maximum loan: $7.5 million |
May 22, 2026 |
| H2Ohio Conservation Ditch Program |
To fund construction of two-stage and self-forming ditches. |
Soil and water conservation districts and county engineers |
Unspecified, funding model is reimbursement |
June 1, 2026 |
| Ohio Sexual Assault Investigations Grant Program |
To reimburse for the cost of testing sexual assault kits, including capacity building for agencies that complete sexual assault investigations |
Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and crime labs |
Unspecified, funding model is reimbursement |
June 10, 2026 |
| Extradition Reimbursement Program |
To reimburse LEAs for the cost of in-state and out-of-state extraditions. |
Law enforcement agencies and prosecutor's offices |
Unspecified total, no maximum per request; No match |
June 10, 2026 |
| Shine a Light on Dumpers Program |
To assist local governments in cleaning existing solid-waste dump sites and to take preventative action to deter future dumping. |
Counties and other local governments |
Max awards: $100,000 (clean-up projects);
$20,000 (deterrence projects)
|
July 31, 2026 |
Federal funding opportunities
The table below contains a sampling of current federal grant or loan programs. A full list can be found on Grants.gov.
Grant Program
|
Brief Summary
|
Eligibility Criteria
|
Amount Available
|
Application Due Date
|
| Youth Gang Prevention and Intervention Program |
To support the implementation of intervention and suppression strategies to reduce youth gang crime and to promote public safety. |
General Availability |
Maximum award: $500,000
No match required
|
May 21, 2026 |
| Rural Law Enforcement Violent Crime Reduction Initiative |
To support rural law enforcement and prosecutors through implementation of a crime reduction strategy that utilizes at least one of three specified approaches. |
Counties serving rural areas
|
Maximum award: $400,000
No match required
|
May 27, 2026 |
| De-escalation and Crisis Response Training Program |
To support the development, implementation, and/or expansion of de-escalation and crisis response training programs that improve law enforcement responses to and outcomes for individuals in crisis who have behavioral health conditions or physical or intellectual disabilities. |
General Availability |
Maximum award: $700,000
No match required
|
June 6, 2026 |
| Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program |
To assist in the assessment and management of landslide risks through hazard mapping, public education, and community preparedness. |
General Availability |
Maximum award: $250,000
No match required
|
June 10, 2026 |
| Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program |
To improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability, to mitigate congest at both intercity passenger rail and freight rail choke points, and to enhance multi-modal connections. |
General Availability |
Total available: $2 billion
Local match of at least 20% (limited exceptions apply)
|
June 22, 2026 |
| Defense Community Infrastructure Program |
To address deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of a military installation. |
Counties in proximity to a military installation |
Maximum award: $20 million
Local match of at least 30% (limited exceptions apply)
|
June 25, 2026 |
| Title X Family Planning Services Grants |
To promote the general family planning programs and goals under Title X of the Public Health Service Act. |
General Availability |
Maximum award: $22 million
Local match of between 1% and 10%
|
January 9, 2027 |
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.
A paid subscription may be required to view the full article in some cases.
Northwest District
New deal could shift Lucas County Jail medical care
13ActionNews, April 28, 2026
Lucas County is moving to change medical providers at the jail after cost and staffing problems with the last contractor.
The county hired Vitalcore Health Strategies in 2024, but had to amend the deal when staffing fell short and year one costs rose to about $5.5 million.
Now, commissioners are opening negotiations with Armor Health for jail medical services, but say they are approaching the new contract with caution.
“We’ve had a fraught history of medical care in the facility. I mean, we did it for a while on our own and we know that ended badly. We’ve had several health care providers come in on a contract basis. It didn’t go well from the start. We’ll even go back to Vitalcore that came in and made a bid for us and within months, they were back for a million-dollar upgrade to the contract. So I come to this next agreement with great caution,” Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken said.
13 Action News has learned that the sheriff’s office supports a new agreement with Armor Health.
A final contract will go back to commissioners for approval on May 12.
Northeast District
Medina County commissioners submit affidavit to Ohio Auditor of State regarding Medina County Auditor Anthony Capretta
Medina Gazette, April 30, 2026
The Medina County commissioners submitted an affidavit to the Ohio auditor of state on Thursday regarding Medina County Auditor Anthony Capretta.
The submitted affidavit states: “That Anthony P. Capretta, the auditor of said county has purposely, knowingly, or recklessly failed to perform a fiscal duty expressly imposed by law, with respect to the fiscal duties of the office of county auditor, or has purposely, knowingly, or recklessly committed any act expressly prohibited by law, with respect to the fiscal duties of the office of county auditor.”
The document states that the acts the auditor has committed are expressly prohibited by several sections of the Ohio Revised Code, which reference the use of public funds.
According to the Ohio Revised Code, the county treasurer or a county commissioner may submit a sworn affidavit alleging a violation by the county auditor, together with evidence supporting the allegations, to the auditor of state. The auditor of state will then review the affidavit and the evidence, and within 30 calendar days after receiving it, shall determine whether clear and convincing evidence supports the allegations.
The Medina County commissioners said they listed several facts in the affidavit, including the use of public funds on campaign-related activities, the misuse of journal entries to reclassify expenditures, and the intentional obfuscation of salary overruns when issuing employee bonuses.
The affidavit states that Capretta has used public funds to pay for the services of a professional photographer/videographer whose work product has been paid for by Medina County taxpayers and used in his reelection campaign.
The document states that Brian Travalik/Travalik Videography LLC has been paid $2,000 per month with county funds, totaling $46,000.
“While engaged, Mr. Travalik's services have frequently extended beyond governmental communication and into activity that supports Auditor Capretta's campaign-related efforts,” the affidavit reads.
Additionally, the affidavit states that on multiple occasions, the auditor’s office used journal entries to reclassify county expenditures across funds and/or account codes after the original transactions had occurred.
Central District
Richland County commissioners OK time extension for $4.4 million sanitary sewer project
Richland Source, April 28, 2026
The Richland County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday gave a five-month extension to a Crestline contractor working on a $4.4 million sanitary sewer project near the I-71/Ohio 97 interchange.
Driven Excavating of Crestline, awarded the project in October 2024, was contractually required to have the work “substantially completed” by the end of April and fully completed 45 days later.
During a meeting with Patrick Schwan, senior engineering manager and principal engineer for Richland Engineering Ltd., the three-member board approved the time extension. Without that approval, the contractor could have faced financial penalties for not having the work done on time.
Richland Engineering designed the project, an effort in what should be an emerging large growth area in the county.
Schwan said there were a “variety” of reasons for the project taking longer than expected, including weather and delays in receiving materials. Commissioners approved the work using American Rescue Plan Act funds, which requires it to be complete by the end of 2026.
“I would say it’s probably mostly out of (the contractor’s) hands,” said Schwan, adding the project is about 75 percent complete. “Looking back is always 20/20, but they have worked efficiently and they’ve been able to have the materials and things that they need.
“There are subcontractors that are a part of their work process, as well, but (there is) nothing of significance that would have made a huge difference at the end of the day,” Schwan said.
“The (deadline) date we set was kind of an arbitrary date,” Schwan said.
He said he had met with the contractor and gone over its schedule for the remaining work, adding he was confident the new deadline of Sept. 18 would be met.
“I feel pretty comfortable saying that with the timeframe he has left, with the things that still need to be done. There’s nothing that needs to be ordered or approved. It’s just literally physical labor to get it all completed,” Schwan said.
“This is a big investment in the county. We want them to take care and we want them to do it right,” he said.
Commissioners said they were certain the work would be completed.
Southwest District
Fayette County commissioners approve funding for bus service
Record Herald, April 27, 2026
The Fayette County commissioners met Wednesday for a special meeting, continuing a session from Monday, to address a funding request from Fayette County Community Action.
While Community Action is not an agency funded by the commissioners, Director Bambi Baughn and transportation manager Joy Stanforth requested financial assistance to sustain the Fayette Madison Transportation bus service. The agency is facing a budget shortfall through July 1.
Community Action relies on federal and state funds, along with various grants. Baughn said federal funding cuts have created a deficit, and the agency’s grant money will be exhausted by June 30.
To mitigate costs, the agency laid off several drivers, modified routes, and plans to sell four small vehicles. Commissioner Tony Anderson expressed skepticism regarding the long-term viability of those cuts.
“Selling assets won’t fix the income problem,” Anderson said, suggesting a levy may be necessary in the future.
Stanforth noted that vehicle insurance costs have reached $165,000, and roughly 70% of their transportation is job related. She added that Madison County contributed $69,000 to the service this year.
The commissioners ultimately approved the request for $140,573.33 to fund operations through July 1. Commissioner Donnie Fleak cautioned the agency that further budget adjustments will be required moving forward.
Southeast District
Water and Sewer Rate Hikes Are Coming Soon
WHIZ, April 27, 2026
Muskingum County Water and Sewer customers will begin seeing an increase in their service bills later in the year.
Muskingum County Commissioner Melissa Bell explained how the county-provided public-utilities must keep up with the ever increasing costs of state mandated requirements.
“We have just approved a rate increase for water,” Bell said. “We have not done a water rate increase since 2016. So it’s been over 10 years since we’ve done that. And it will be 5 percent a year, for each of the next 5 years. And one of the most important things to know about the water department and the sewer department are that each of those departments are what is called enterprise funds. So they are created to be self-sufficient.”
Departments with revenues that are considered Enterprise Funds must, by law, be run like a business and separated from general taxation. They must charge their customers enough to cover their expenses but must remain within set regulations. The water and the sewer departments are separate and do not necessarily serve the same customers, however customers with the county’s water and sewer services will see the same increase on both bills.
“We haven’t had a rate increase in water since 2016 and we haven’t had one for sewer since 2011 and so this is a necessary adjustment in those rates,” Bell said. “To be able to provide for increased expenditures. And those things would include things such as: maintenance, any kind of expansion that we might want to do, any projects that would be included within those two departments.”
Even though the county provides the public utilities, those departments are totally separate from the projects and departments that are supported through taxation. Top MAY 15
CCAO Board of Directors Meeting
MAY 22
CEBCO Board of Directors Meeting
MAY 25
Memorial Day - Holiday
MAY 29
CCAO / CEAO Central District Meeting
JUNE 11
CCAO / CEAO Northwest District Meeting Top
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