LGF distributions 7.1% above estimates, continued overperformance projected
In late June, the Department of Taxation released its updated Local Government Fund forecast for CY 2026. The figures are the Undivided LGF, not the amount that county governments themselves will receive.
Since the LGF is funded by a portion of state General Revenue Fund tax receipts, it has exceeded estimates since the beginning of the year.
Through June, actual LGF distributions have totaled $250.5 million, compared with an estimated $234.0 million (an overperformance of about 7.1%).
The Department's revised estimate for the rest of the calendar year is larger than the initial estimates, but to a smaller degree than YTD overperformance. The new final CY 2026 LGF estimate is $501.9 million, a 4.0% increase over the initial estimate.
OCERP Retirement Advisors holding July, August webinars
Join your Ohio County Employees Retirement Plan (OCERP) Retirement Plan Advisor for their July and August 2026 Financial Wellness Webinars:
- July: Retirement Readiness
- This webinar covers all the factors to consider when deciding whether you are ready to retire. Did you know that you can contribute your sick and vacation pay into your OCERP account up to the 2026 IRS limit? Did you know that if you are over age 50 and within three years of retiring, you are eligible for Special Catch-up, which has a higher IRS contribution limit? Did you know that OPERS offers a one-time payout of your pension that you can roll into your OCERP account? Attend this webinar to learn more about getting ready to retire.
- August: Budgeting
- Do you have a monthly budget? Your Retirement Plan Advisor will review the basics of budgeting and how having a budget in place helps you stay on track to meet your retirement savings goal.
Registration is required, but is free. Please select the registration link in the table below based on which OCERP region your work location is located within. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email that includes the meeting access information.
Top Top Federal Uniform Guidance changes public comment period closing today; outreach to Congress can continue
The proposed rewrite of the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) would affect every county that receives, administers, and passes through federal grant funding. This includes new conditions on every federal award, expanded agency authority to terminate or suspend grants mid-project, new screening and disclosure requirements, and more (at the same time that compliance requirements and costs would go up).
NACo leadership briefed the CCAO Executive Committee about the changes on July 7. The slides used in the briefing provide a high-level but thorough overview of the substantial impacts that the changes would have on counties. It can be accessed here.
Importantly, these changes would go into effect on October 1, 2026. This would cause significant confusion and administrative costs if processes were changed on such short notice.
Today is the final day for public comments.
However, NACo and CCAO encourage counties to reach out to their congressional delegation and urge Congress to intervene to slow down the changes. As currently written, the changes would disrupt nearly every federal grant program and have severe negative effects on smaller counties that may not be able to handle the vastly increased administrative burdens.
Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board accepting applications for its annual Citizen Archivest Award
The Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board Citizen Archivist Award honors volunteers in Ohio’s archives who work long hours answering reference requests, processing collections, and indexing historic records. This award recognizes a volunteer in an Ohio archive who best exemplifies the dedication and hard work volunteers—our citizen archivists—contribute to Ohio’s archives each day.
All Ohio institutions responsible for archival records that provide free public access to at least a portion of their collections are eligible. Preference will be given to volunteers whose work increases access to archival collections in Ohio. OHRAB will accept nominations from Ohio archival institutions as well as the general public.
Departments employing members of OHRAB are not eligible, but other departments in their institutions are eligible.
Nominating letters should be no longer than two pages, 12-pt, single-spaced, describing the accomplishments and dedication of the volunteer. Include the nominee’s name along with a contact person’s name, mailing and email addresses, and phone number. If the nominee’s contributions include online collections, please include a link to the website.
Nominations must be received by September 15, 2026.
Send nominations via email or U.S. mail to:
Chris Shaw (cshaw@co.delaware.oh.us)
Delaware County Records Center
2079 US Rte. 23 North
PO Box 8006
Delaware, OH 43015
740-833-2140 Top SERB Conference to be held on September 1
Registration is now open for the 2026 State Personnel Board of Review (SPBR) Conference, scheduled for September 1, 2026, in Columbus.
The full-day program is designed for managers, HR professionals, attorneys, union representatives, elected officials, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Ohio's public employment laws, rules, and shifting legal landscape.
Attendees will gain practical tools, legal insights, and actionable guidance to support confident, informed decision-making in public sector roles.
This year’s conference offers a dynamic and diverse agenda. Topics include the SPBR process, citizen- and work-centered AI, navigating partisan political activity, distinguishing classified and unclassified service, resolving workplace conflict, and a fast-paced briefing on Ohio's most talked-about public-sector challenges.
CCAO Executive Director Cheryl Subler is one of the panelists on the fast-paced briefing session.
Registration costs $200 and can be completed here. If accommodations are needed, the conference has reserved a block of rooms at the conference venue (the Marriott Northwest Hotel in Dublin), which can be reserved for $131 per night.
The conference has also been approved for 5.5 hours of general Continuing Legal Education credits.
Workforce Association annual conference to be held in mid-September
The Ohio Workforce Association and the Ohio Chapter of the International Association of Workforce Professionals are hosting their annual conference on September 17 and 18 in Lewis Center.
The conference, titled The Engagement Blueprint: Connecting Industry to Opportunity, will feature sessions on using AI to strengthen workforce delivery, how to use predictive analytics in job matching, and more.
The full agenda is available here.
Registration is open and costs $395 until August 31, at which point the fee will increase to $425.
You can register for the event here.
Grant table updates
The State Funding Opportunities table below has been updated to include three grants offered by the Ohio Supreme Court.
The Court Improvement Program grants are available to courts of common pleas' juvenile divisions (and, in one case, probate divisions) to improve juvenile court outcomes. All three grants close on August 5, and none require a local match.
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
|
| Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program |
To provide funding for initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems in support of specified program areas. |
Counties and other local governments |
Max award: $150,000
Local match required
|
July 21, 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 |
| Court Improvement Program: Court Navigator Grant |
To support the implementation of a Court Navigator Pilot Program within abuse, neglect, and dependency (A/N/D) cases. |
Courts of Common Pleas Juvenile Courts |
One grant of up to $80,000.
No match required.
|
August 5, 2026 |
| Court Improvement Program: Technology Grant |
To help juvenile and probate courts improve their ability to maintain operations during emergencies, enhance virtual hearing capabilities, and enhance digital communications with families and system partners. |
Courts of Common Pleas Juvenile and Probate Courts |
Maximum grant: $25,000
No match required.
|
August 5, 2026 |
| Court Improvement Program: Mediation Grant |
To support the creation of mediation programs within A/N/D cases, to assist older youth transitioning out of foster care, to address school absenteeism, and to prevent child welfare or juvenile justice involvement. |
Courts of Common Pleas Juvenile Courts |
Maximum grant: $80,000
No match required.
|
August 5, 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
|
| Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program |
To assist law enforcement agencies in hiring and/or rehiring career sworn law enforcement officers to assist in community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. |
General availability for entities with law enforcement functions |
$157.6 million available, maximum award of $6.3 million
Local match of at least 25%
|
July 23, 2026 |
| Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Grants |
To support partnerships that will design and implement industry-driven training programs that will close skills gaps and boost the talent pipeline in critical sectors. |
General availability for entities within the jurisdiction of the Appalachian Regional Commission |
$49.2 million available
No match requirement
|
July 23, 2026 |
| COPS Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Program |
To provide LEAs that do not have established law enforcement-specifc mental health and wellness programing with start-up funds to establish those supports. |
General availability for entities with law enforcement functions |
$9 million available
No match requirement
|
July 30, 2026 |
| Continuum of Care and Youth Homelessness Program |
To provide funding to enable the quick rehousing of homeless individuals, families, and other vulnerable populations. |
General availability |
$4 billion available
Local match of at least 25%
|
August 26, 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
North Central Behavioral to serve five counties
Fremont News Messenger, July 6, 2026
The Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wyandot counties and the Huron County Mental Health and Addiction Services Board has joined together to form a five-county district known as the North Central Behavioral Health Board.
This consolidation brings an array of benefits to residents of the new behavioral health district consisting of Seneca, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wyandot counties. Residents will have access to enhanced services, including expanded crisis response services, access to regional mental health housing, recovery and transitional housing, and opportunities for multi-county projects.
Local and statewide officials, including Huron County Commissioner President Tom Dunlap, gathered July 1 for the Merger Day Celebration in Norwalk.
“This consolidation shows accountability of managing public funds, reduction of overhead expenses and increased funding for behavioral health services," Dunlap said. "The goal is to enhance access and quality of services to individuals in need."
Ohio Department of Behavioral Health Director Tia Marcel Moretti also attended and emphasized the importance of developing a system to serve clients through appropriate services and collaboration among local entities.
Northeast District
Medina County commissioners approve sheriff union contracts, road and utility projects
Your Ohio News, July 6, 2026
The Medina County Board of Commissioners approved two new labor agreements with sheriff's office employees, authorized several engineering and infrastructure projects, and announced the next steps for a proposed Wadsworth annexation during its June 30 meeting.
Among most significant actions was approval of two three-year collective bargaining agreements between the Medina County Sheriff's Office and the Fraternal Order of Police.
The agreements cover the sheriff's communications technicians and corrections corporals and sergeants and will remain in effect for three years.
The commissioners also approved a series of personnel actions presented by Human Resources Director Holly Muren, including two new hires, one promotion, 37 wage increases, two retirements in the Transit Department and an amendment to the Medina County Sanitary Engineering Department's table of organization.
The pay adjustments included employees in the County Home, Dog Shelter, Solid Waste District, Human Resources, Maintenance Department, Sanitary Engineering Department, Job and Family Services, Transit Department and Building Department.
The board also approved several projects involving county infrastructure.
County Engineer Andy Conrad received approval to temporarily close various county roads for multiple construction projects and to award the contract for replacement of Bridge No. 4 on Hartman Road in Wadsworth Township.
Sanitary Engineer Jeremy Sinko received authorization to enter into a professional design contract with Johnson Laskey Construction of Ohio LLC for replacement of chemical feed building floor grates at the Liverpool Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Commissioners also approved Sinko's request to apply for and accept a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund agreement to finance design work for Hinckley wastewater facilities and authorized the county to seek qualifications for professional design services for the Center Road water main installation project.
Central District
Mental health board seeking levy renewal
Morrow County Sentinel, July 8, 2026
The Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board will appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot with a renewal levy containing a slight increase in millage.
Last week, the board voted to approve the levy, which it said represents the dedicated local funding source for crisis response, mental health, prevention, and addiction recovery services that reach thousands of residents across Delaware and Morrow counties each year.
“This levy is the foundation of our local mental health and addiction treatment response,” Board Executive Director Deanna Brant said in a press release. “Crisis hotlines, mobile crisis response, addiction recovery, school-based prevention. All of it depends on local levy support. We are asking voters to renew their support so the services that are saving lives today will be here tomorrow.”
If approved, the levy would carry a rate of 2 mills and would cost homeowners approximately $50 per year for every $100,000 of appraised property value.
Board Chair Bruce Pijanowski said the board has built a record of fiscal discipline and accountability that justifies the request for continued support.
“Every dollar from this levy is restricted by law to mental health and addiction recovery services,” he said. “The money cannot be diverted. We keep administrative costs lean so that services reach people in all of our communities. Delaware and Morrow County voters have supported this work before, and we are hopeful they will again, because the alternative is service reductions our community cannot afford.”
Among the services the levy would fund are crisis hotlines, mobile crisis response, and 24/7 emergency stabilization for residents experiencing a mental health or substance use emergency. The board also assists with counseling, psychiatric care, residential treatment, addiction recovery services, peer support, recovery housing, and prevention programs serving children, families, and schools.
The renewal levy would be the first since 2021. According to the board, the five years since the original levy have included increased demand for mental health and addiction treatment services while also seeing a substantial rise in the cost of qualified staff, residential placements, and specialty care.
Southwest District
Butler County tax budget skewed by 27th pay period
Journal-News, July 9, 2026
The Butler County commissioners are mulling a $138.6 million structurally balanced general fund tax budget for next year that looks large but is skewed by a rare extra pay period and other anomalies.
The annual tax budget is a rough draft of the spending plan the commissioners will formally approve at year’s end after meeting with other office holders and department heads, but usually is a good indication of the final product. This year the commissioners are considering spending $138.7 million for operating expenses paid for with an estimated $170.6 million in general fund revenues.
Officials expect to have roughly $73.6 million in unencumbered cash at year’s end.
County Administrator Judi Boyko said the total proposed expense budget is about $4 million more than the spending plan this year or 3% — the individual office submissions represent a 4.65% hike — and the revenue side shows a 22.1% increase or nearly $31 million more.
She said “what’s important to note here is we’re not collecting that much more,” it’s because the commissioners rolled roughly $12.5 million back in inside millage to the taxpayers this year, a tax break that will likely be repeated. Commissioner Don Dixon told the Journal-News he’d probably be willing to give $20 million back to the taxpayers.
“Our revenues are strong and we really never got any meaningful reform from the state for real estate taxes, it’s smoke and mirrors, a little bit of help, they didn’t give anything back. They tweaked a couple things but all that windfall appraisal money they didn’t give any of it back,” Dixon said. “It’s up to us, whatever we can give back is needed, meaningful reform is going to have to come from the state but I’m for giving back the inside millage.”
Southeast District
Athens County Commission: Commissioners discuss sewer progress, approve second round of bidding for Nelsonville building
Athens Messenger, July 7, 2026
The Athens County Board of Commissioners received an update on the progress made on the New Marshfield sewer project.
The $7.5 million project will connect 130 homes in New Marshfield and eliminate hundreds of aging and leaky septic systems, connecting them with the Athens County Water and Sewer District’s wastewater treatment plant in The Plains, as previously reported in The Messenger.
Construction on Phase 1 of the New Marshfield sewer project began in mid-to-late March and is being handled by D.V. Weber Construction of Reedsville, Ohio.
This phase of the project includes the collection system to peoples’ homes in the area.
Phase 2 of the project will involve the construction of a three-and-a-half-mile long force main from New Marshfield to The Plains.
To avoid digging up roads in the area, which would result in costly repaving, some alignments are being changed.
At the commissioner’s meeting on June 30, the depth of the planned sewer line had to be moved up three feet to avoid drilling through rock, as previously reported by The Messenger.
However, there are no further change orders or pending changes being made to the project at this time.
The bid opening for Phase 2 of the New Marshfield sewer project will take place Aug. 4, Gary Silcott, the vice president of DLZ Corporation, explained.
To avoid any potential flooding of basements during heavy rains and other issues, homes in New Marshfield will be inspected to make sure there are no sump pumps, downspouts or floor drains. Top JULY 24
CEBCO Board of Directors Meeting
AUGUST 7
CCAO Board of Directors Meeting (virtual)
AUGUST 14
CORSA Board of Directors Meeting Top
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