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Recording, slides available from CCAO's webinar on the children services system; overview of placement costs cap bill

Last week, CCAO held a webinar with PCSAO to provide commissioners with an overview of the children services system and a deeper examination of the stressors and cost drivers that are fueling the children services placement crisis felt by counties across the state.

The webinar was the first in a series focusing on human service functions that Ohio counties operate. The next webinars are on job and family services agencies (September 14) and child support enforcement agencies (September 28).

The webinar was timely, as the day before Representatives Justin Pizzulli and Darnell Brewer hosted a press conference introducing House Bill 984, which would set rate caps for child welfare placement costs.

House Bill 984 Press Conference

Scioto County Commissioner Scottie Powell and Scioto County JFS Director Tammy Moore Morton joined the representatives to provide insight into Scioto County’s child welfare challenges.

HB 984 requires the Department of Children and Youth (DCY) to develop and administer a system to establish payment rates for the placement and care of children in DCY licensed settings, including foster homes, residential facilities, and group homes. It includes an emergency clause, which would make the bill effective immediately upon the governor’s signature. These bills require a 2/3 affirmative vote to pass, rather than a simple majority.

The bill also requires DCY to consult with county public children services agencies (PCSAs), boards of county commissioners, and licensed providers when developing the rates. The rates that are set through the process would be the maximum allowable payment rate that a county could pay for the placement of the child. The legislation allows rates to be adjusted every two years.

HB 984 allows DCY to establish, through rule, exceptions to the traditional rates “for extraordinary or specialized placements and care.” The Department is required to establish maximum rates for these types of care as well.

During the press conference, Reps. Pizzulli and Brewer highlighted the need to calm child placement costs that have soared in recent years, and the need for consistency and transparency in what counties are expected to pay. Rep. Pizzulli described the statewide situation in which the number of children in care has decreased while the costs have increased dramatically.

Commissioner Powell described Scioto County’s fiscal position due to child welfare costs. In the last four years, the number of children in Scioto County custody has decreased by over 50%. Despite the significant reduction in children in care, the agency’s placement costs are higher today than they were four years ago. Director Moore Morton shared that one child in Scioto County was on track to cost $1 million in a single year.

Even though Scioto County voters approved a levy that tripled the revenue available for children services, the revenue is not covering the costs. Without change, the commissioners may be forced to cut other county services, including law enforcement and court services, to cover the difference.

“The most troubling part of this equation is even if we manage to cut $4 million of expense of our $24 million general fund, the problem is still not fixed. Rates can and will go up because there are no guardrails to prevent it,” Commissioner Powell said.

Funding for child placement costs has been a CCAO priority. Counties across the state are seeing unsustainable rises in these costs. When a child enters custody, it is often hard to predict how much the county will be required to pay for placement.

In House Bill 96, the current state operating budget, the legislature passed language requiring DCY to establish rate cards using provider reported costs in response to an advocacy request from CCAO and the Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO). Congregate care providers (residential facilities and group homes) are required to participate, while foster homes may opt to participate. PCSAs will be able to collect federal Title IV-E reimbursement on all rates established through the rate card process.

DCY anticipates the rate cards will be effective January 1, 2027. If HB 984 passes in its current form, the rate card language in statute would be repealed and replaced with this new rate establishment process.

CCAO is reviewing HB 984 and will continue to keep members updated. Members with questions should contact Rachel Reedy at rreedy@ccao.org.

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Public safety in state parks recommendation report issued

On Friday, Governor DeWine announced the recommendations from the Public Safety in Ohio State Parks Working Group. The Working Group was convened after the governor vetoed a provision from the state operating budget that would have required the Department of Natural Resources to reimbursement local governments for emergency response services provided at South Bass island State Park.

The governor was concerned that the requirement, which did not include an appropriation, would require cutbacks in similar services at other state parks. The Working Group was created to provide recommendations on statewide improvements to how the state supports local law enforcement activities in state parks.

CCAO was represented on the Working Group by Hocking County Commissioner Jason D'Onofrio.

The Working Group issued seven recommendations, which are discussed in more detail in the report itself. The recommendations are:

• Create a Department of Public Safety grant program to aid local agencies that assist in responding to emergencies at state parks.
  
  
• Require the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (EMA) to include information on its site regarding how to request mutual aid through the state's Emergency Response System.
  
  
• Explore the potential of a standardized public safety fee for large, third-party events held at state parks.
  
  
• Establish a Drones as First Responders pilot program tailored specifically to local agencies that provide support to state parks.
  
  
• Incorporate exercises and drills focused on responding to calls in state parks into joint training exercises between local law enforcement and Ohio EMA and county EMAs.
  
  
• Create a toolkit between the Ohio Travel Association and county convention and visitors bureaus aimed at supporting local law enforcement.
  
  
• Encourage the General Assembly to pass legislation that requires counties to publish an annual report regarding compliance with lodging tax payments.

This final recommendation arises out of the lack of uniformity in county lodging tax collection procedures and schedules. The annual report would, in theory, help identify those entities that are not properly collecting and remitting the tax.

CCAO has an existing platform position recommending that the penalties for failing to collect and remit the tax be aligned with the penalties for failing to collect and remit sales tax properly. The concept of an annual report could be a step towards creating stiffer penalties.

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Farm Science Review Grand Opening registration open through August 31

Registration for the 2026 Farm Science Review's Grand Opening is open! The grand opening will take place on September 22, and the full annual event will be held from September 22-24 in London at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center.

The Grand Opening will include a breakfast, opening remarks from Vice President and CFAES Dean Cathann Kress and other special guests, followed by a self-guided tour of the event.

Registration for the Grand Opening can be completed here. The deadline is August 31 to ensure that registrants will receive their ticket and parking pass in a timely manner.

The Farm Science Review is one of the nation's leading events focused on agricultural education, demonstrations, and innovation. Advance tickets are available for $10 through county OSU Extension offices and will be available for $15 at the gate.

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OSU Extension hosting grant workshop in Belmont County on October 2

The Noble County and Belmont County OSU Extension offices, in partnership with the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association, are hosting a grant writing workshop in St. Clairsville on October 2.

The workshop, running from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., will cover what to do before you write a grant; organizational mission and structure; components of a grant proposal; finding and connecting with funders; and a provide complimentary proposal review.

The fee for the course is $125, but communities and organizations located in an Appalachian county will receive a discounted rate.

The workshop is space limited and registration closes on September 15 (unless it fills earlier).

Registration can be completed by emailing Cathryn Stanley, Program Coordinator for the Noble County Ohio State University Extension Office.

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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
Rural Health Transformation Program	To improve health behaviors associated with cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity in rural areas, and to strengthen rural communities by improving healthcare access, quality and outcomes by transforming the current system.	Public health departments serving a non-urban county (Map available on page 18 of the linked PDF)	$7 million available No match required	September 8, 2026
Brownfield Remediation Program	To assist in the remediation of hazardous substances or petroleum at industrial, commercial, or institutional properties.	General availability	$120 million available No match required	September 11, 2026
Precinct Election Official Recruitment and Training Grant	To provide assistance in the recruitment and training of precinct election officials for the 2026 November general election.	County boards of elections	Set allocation per county, contact the Secretary of State for further information	Unspecified, but terms must be completed by November 2, 2026
H2Ohio Conservation Ditch Grant Program	To provide reimbursement for the construction of two-stage and self-forming conservation ditches.	Soil and water conservation districts and county engineers	Unspecified Reimbursement model	June 1, 2027 (Rolling until)

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Northwest District

Paulding commissioners discuss energy project, economic matters
Crescent News, August 17, 2026
A trio of alternative energy projects and land bank projects were highlighted during recent Paulding County commissioner meetings.

Ali Stano and other representatives from EDP Renewables met with commissions to discuss three projects currently in development. The projects involve battery and solar energy.

The officials from EDP Renewables stated there have been ongoing supply issues for parts to service turbines. The company is looking for a new supplier currently.

Stano acknowledged that there have been complaints about mowing and weed control for the solar project in Harrison Township. The company is working to resolve this issue.

The Paulding County Planning Commission also discussed matters dealing with the battery and solar energy projects.

Chad Benschneider of Harrison Township presented zoning amendments to commissioners stating that one amendment deals with the solar energy and battery storage systems. The other amendment provides updates to zoning regulations that “reflect recent state legislative changes and adjustments to zoning fees.”

The county prosecutor reviewed the proposal and notified township trustees that they needed to meet with the planning commission to inform them of the changes. Engineer Scott Strahley stated he would draft a letter supporting the amendments. The planning commission then adjourned.

Paulding County Economic Development Director Tim Copsey also discussed matters with commissioners.

He stated that the Ohio Department of Development has approved a list of 19 projects for grant funding for the county’s land bank. Copsey stated that the projects are distributed across the county.

There are many other grant funds that are assisting with other projects throughout the county, including improvements for Payne sidewalks and parks, Riverside Park, the county fairgrounds and Monroe Street.

The Western Buckeye Educational Service Center has secured a $100,000 workforce development grant. The funding will be used for a career navigator position that will be shared between two counties.

In addition, Copsey stated that the Village of Antwerp has been approved for funding for a new water treatment facility. The village of Paulding, meanwhile, is preparing for a Williams Street (U.S. 127) project.

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Central District

Perry County Officials Share Flood Plain Information
WHIZ, August 18, 2026
Perry County Officials are sharing information for home and property owners who may be in flood plains.

Perry County Commissioner, Ben Carpenter, has spent most of his career in Perry County, 30 years of which he served as the Administrator of the Soil and Water Office and 25 as the County’s Flood Plain Manager.

He says thought it would be a good time to share some information on what a flood plain is and how the levee we reported on last week is still doing its job 66 years later.

“Land that’s in a flood plain, floods. It’s going to rain and flood waters rise.” Carpenter said. “In 1950, there were some major storms, flooded Roseville, and wiped out Roseville. As a result of that, that levee that you see and reported on along Roseville was built in 1960 by the Army Corps of Engineers and it protected the Village of Roseville. This was the first event that really challenged that levee but it did its job, it held, and it protected them.”

Carpenter says without the levee, some parts of the county could’ve faced up to 5 feet of water instead of 2.

He says the common misconception with flood plains is people think they’re created due to global warming and climate changes but that’s not the case.

“This glass is going to be our flood plain, not the river or the creek, but the flood plain. So let’s say this flood event is up to this black line and the trouble or problem with flood plains is every year, these marbles are going to represent buildings and encroachment and development in the flood plain. So as buildings get built, in the flood plain, year after year, more and more houses get built, barns get built, soil gets added, more roads are built or developed, and what happens is that the capacity of the flood plain is diminished. So the event that we had recently brought that flood level up to that black line and it could build for another 10 to 20 years, you can see the same amount of water, now we have a flood event elevation that’s increased.”

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Southeast District

Community voices are key to guiding Coshocton County growth
Coshocton Tribune, August 16, 2026
Residents' input will play a key role in the development of Coshocton County.

Officials are asking for feedback to create a new land use plan that will focus on guiding economic growth, development and land use decisions through the coming decades.

Announced in March, the project will update the 2006 plan to help guide economic growth in the county, which is seen as crucial as new business developments like the Aligned Data Center under construction at the Conesville Industrial Park.

A land use plan manages and optimizes how land is developed and used while balancing social, economic and environmental needs. It can also direct growth through zoning, infrastructure planning and environmental protection. The main elements of the plan is geographic information system (GIS) mapping and input from local stakeholders.

Commissioner Bob Bigrigg said the county has changed dramatically since the creation of the 2006 plan, which supposedly had a 50-year outlook. He expects more changes over the next two decades and wants residents involved in shaping the county's future.

"There are many different dynamics and many different expansions of industry in our community. Potentially, this gives the public a way to provide input back into the situation," he said. "It needs to be as open and transparent as possible. People are allowed to participate. If they have something to add, they are welcome to come (to the meetings)."

Bigrigg would like to see the new plan feature input from the banking and finance sector and address zoning.

Currently, only Coshocton, West Lafayette and Warsaw have zoning regulations governing what types of commercial businesses or residential structures can be built. Bigrigg noted local officials had little oversight in the Aligned Data Center project because zoning regulations weren't in place.