Materials from CCAO human services systems webinar series available
Ohio delegates responsibility for the administration of many critical human service programs to counties, including public assistance, children services, and child support enforcement. Each program and funding stream comes with distinct regulations and community impacts that are important to understand.
Following federal and state policy changes and trends and ahead of the upcoming administration change in Ohio, CCAO will held a three-part webinar series to dive deeper into these important human services systems. The recordings and slide decks are available below and can be found on the Webinars page of our website.
Child Welfare System
Job and Family Services Agencies
Child Support Enforcement Agencies
Presidential Major Disaster Declaration issued for seven counties due to August, September storms
On Friday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that President Trump approved a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for seven Ohio counties impacted by severe weather in August.
The counties approved for federal disaster assistance are Clermont, Franklin, Hamilton, Licking, Morgan, Muskingum, and Perry.
The declaration activates FEMA’s Individual Assistance Grant Program, which includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, rental assistance, replacement of personal property, crisis counseling, disaster unemployment assistance, and disaster legal services. The declaration also makes low interest loans available through the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Governor DeWine requested the declaration for 23 counties on September 2. The 16 counties not addressed in today's notice of approval are still under review. The request for statewide hazard mitigation support is also pending.
The counties named in the Friday announcement should share with their residents that those who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362). Top Top Quarterly county-by-county SNAP payment error rates released
Last week, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) released its quarterly report on county-specific Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment error rates. The report shows calculated SNAP payment error rates for each individual county from April-June 2026.
You can view the report and your county’s error rate here.
County JFS directors and teams have access to the full data dashboard that includes more specifics regarding the cases reviewed and the payment errors found. CCAO encourages members to discuss your county’s SNAP payment error rate with your JFS director if you have questions.
Additional background information on this new SNAP payment error rate process is available below.
Background
In July 2025, the federal government passed sweeping changes to SNAP through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. States will now be required to pay a portion of SNAP benefit costs based on the state’s payment error rate. An error rate is a measure of underpayments and overpayments to a SNAP recipient.
If a state’s error rate is below 6%, the state will not pay any benefit costs. Rates greater than 6% will require the state to cover 5%, 10%, or 15% of the benefit amount depending on how high the error rate is.
Ohio’s error rate is calculated by randomly pulling 1,020 cases throughout the year. The ODJFS quality control team reworks each case and determines the over/underpayment error amounts and the cause of the errors. The findings are reported to USDA FNA. Following each federal fiscal year, FNS releases state payment error rates. Ohio’s payment error rate for FFY 2025 is 6.76%.
Because the sample size is 1,020 annually, ODJFS is unable to determine county specific payment error rates from the federal process. Many counties do not even have one case selected.
Last fall, the General Assembly examined Ohio’s payment error rate process given the new state responsibility for benefit costs. The lawmakers determined the state should know county specific payment error rates. House Bill 434 (Representatives Bernie Willis and Brian Lampton), effective November 25, 2025, required ODJFS to develop a methodology and technical system to determine SNAP payment error rates at the county level.
Under the ODJFS system, ODJFS assigns each county 15, 20, or 25 cases to review depending on county size. The county completes the case reviews using a tool provided by ODJFS.
HB 434 requires ODJFS to submit a quarterly report using this data to the House and Senate Finance Committee chairs that includes: each distinct SNAP payment error rate calculated using the system; SNAP payment error rates for each county; and the statewide SNAP payment error rate.
While the ODJFS process mirrors the FNS process for determining Ohio’s official SNAP payment error rate, it is important to note that the cases used in each process are different. This could yield different results between the two processes over time.
ODJFS included the following note in its report: The above number of case pulls does not generally produce a statistically significant error rate per county. Under this methodology, the margins of error based on the number of sampled cases will go as high as 7%.
Members with questions should contact Rachel Reedy at rreedy@ccao.org.
Capital case rate increases to $165 per hour, minimum wage increases to $11.40 an hour
Last week, two compensation rate changes were announced, both of which may have impacts on counties. The first regards indigent defense in capital cases and the second is the state minimum wage.
Indigent Defense in Capital Cases
Each year, the Capital Case Attorney Fee Council reviews the compensation rates for attorneys who represent indigent defendants and set the rate for representation in capital cases.
After the latest review, the Council has set the capital representation rate at $165 per hour, an increase from the current $140 an hour.
The new rate will begin on November 29, 2026.
The full memo regarding the change can be read here.
Ohio Minimum Wage
Last week, the Ohio Department of Commerce announced that the Ohio minimum wage will increase to $11.40 per hour for non-tipped employees, and $5.70 per hour for tipped employees.
Under Article II, Section 34a of the Ohio Constitution, the 3.5% increase is tied to inflation and rounded to the nearest $0.05.
The full announcement from the Department of Commerce can be read here. Top OHPELRA AI Summit: Preparing Public Sector HR/LR for the AI Era
Artificial intelligence is changing the workplace—and county government is no exception. From HR operations and employee relations to risk management, policy development and workforce planning, AI presents both new opportunities and important questions for public-sector leaders.
The 2026 OHPELRA AI Summit, “Preparing Public Sector HR/LR for the AI Era,” will provide a practical, full day look at how AI is being used today and what organizational leaders need to know as this technology continues to evolve.
Join the Ohio Public Sector Labor Relations Association (OHPELRA) on Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Quest Conference Center in Westerville for an interactive day focused on real-world applications of AI and its impact on public-sector human resources and labor relations. This training is open to OHPELRA members AND non-members.
County Commissioners, Administrators, HR/LR professionals and Risk Managers will gain insight they can bring back to their organizations as they consider the opportunities, challenges and workforce implications of AI.
Registration and event information are available through the National PELRA Event Portal found here.
Conference of adult-use cannabis industry oversight to be held on October 22
On October 22, the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control is hosting a conference on the state of the adult use cannabis industry in Ohio.
Sessions at the event will focus on how the state regulatory system works, a legislative update (featuring Senator Shane Wilkin and Representative Tex Fischer), the public health focus on preventing cannabis misuse, and the public safety enforcement perspective.
The event is free and 5.25 units of Continuing Legal Education (0.75 for each of the seven sessions) are available.
Those interested in attending must complete the registration form by October 9. The event is being held at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus.
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
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| Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Grant Program |
To provide funding for the demolition of commercial and residential buildings and revitalization of surrounding properties on sites that are not brownfields. |
The designated lead agency in each county
(Listed in "Lead Agency List")
|
$21.5 million available
|
October 16. 2026 |
| MARCS Grant |
To assist volunteer fire departments and small fire departments in acquiring systems and equipment to integrate into the Multi-Agency Radio Communication System. |
Volunteer fire departments and fire departments serving areas with less than 25,000 residents
[non-county grant]
|
Maximum award: $50,000
|
October 24, 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) |
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
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Brief Summary
|
Eligibility Criteria
|
Amount Available
|
Application Due Date
|
| 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
Paulding County commissioners discuss economic development
Crescent-News, September 30, 2026
Economic development issues, including land bank sites, recently were discussed by Paulding County commissioners.
Tim Copsey, executive director of the Paulding County Economic Development Office, stated he has been working with Ohio 82nd House District Rep. Roy Klopfenstein on the land bank item in the next biennium budget.
He gave commissioners a spreadsheet that listed county land bank projects. He noted that the auditor’s value was around $12.3 million for the projects.
Copsey also stated that the land use survey from Maumee Valley Planning Organization and its third-party partner, Reveille, is still open.
An update was then given on the Antwerp Square project as Kauser Excavating won the bid for the site infrastructure work.
Copsey also discussed the Build Your Future event, where 500 freshmen from all three county schools as well as participating businesses took part. He stated it was a very positive experience.
Commissioners also heard from Sheriff Jason Landers who addressed questions about Flock cameras. Landers stated that the Flock camera contract was for two years and that assigned deputies have received training on them. He noted that every search conducted is time-stamped with the relevant case number and details of the search.
Landers stated that the cameras do not use facial recognition, do not capture conversation and do not enforce traffic violations. He noted that out-of-state agencies can access the system, but only with prior approval.
Commissioners thanked Landers and stated their support for the block cameras as an investigative tool.
Commissioners then heard from Corey Walker and Brandi Schrader, who represent the county on the One Ohio Recovery Foundation Region 16 Board. They stated that six projects have been awarded a total of $585,229 through the foundation’s grant cycle. The awards were for projects that aim to save lives, prevent addiction, expand treatment, and recovery and more in Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Williams and Van Wert counties.
Northeast District
Lake County officials discuss status of jail, taxes, infrastructure
News-Herald, October 1, 2026
Lake County commissioners recently shared news on jail construction, taxes, infrastructure and other topics at a local State of the Communities event.
Attendees heard from commissioners Morris Beverage III and Morgan McIntosh. They also saw representatives from Lake Metroparks and Auburn Career Center share news from their agencies.
One major topic was the $205 million Lake County Public Safety Center, under construction across the street from the current county jail in Painesville. Beverage described the project as “on-schedule-ish” and “well within budget.”
“That is the largest capital project ever taken on by Lake County, and it was done without raising taxes, and it was done without getting any money from the state,” he said.
Beverage credited the “foresight” of previous commissioners for setting aside money for the jail project, saying the county saved $90 million for the down payment and borrowed $115 million for the project. That borrowed money includes $50 million in notes that the county paid off three years ahead of its planned schedule.
“The original debt service was in the $7 million range, going into next year we’re already going to be down to the $5 million range,” he added.
McIntosh said that changes in the new jail will include more room to process evidence of crimes and an expanded medical facility that will “dramatically reduce” transportation to an offsite location. Beds will increase 45 percent to 50 percent, but there is not a planned increase to corrections staff because the new jail will be more efficient to manage.
There will also be more resources and flexibility for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, he added.
“There’s not a time when I haven’t come away from the tour speaking with the sheriff’s department correction officers where they haven’t explained to me three or four efficiencies or improvements,” McIntosh said.
Beverage said he expects significant completion in February or March, and an opening next summer.
He also said that Lake was one of three counties in Ohio that implemented two policies in 2025 to lower local property tax payments for certain residents: the local optional homestead tax exemption and an expansion of an owner occupancy credit.
Central District
Licking County poised to buy former Advocate building for $2.3 million for future office expansion
The Reporting Project, September 30, 2026
The Licking County Commissioners are scheduled to vote on Thursday to buy the former Advocate newspaper building in downtown Newark.
If approved on Sept. 30, the resolution would authorize Commissioner Tim Bubb to sign a contract to purchase the 72,000-square-foot building and adjacent parking lots at 22 N. 1st Street for $2.3 million.
The property on a little under two acres includes office space, the former pressroom and a large warehouse. The building dates to 1992 and was last used as a newspaper office by Gannett, which bought the property and three other parcels in 2000 for $9.5 million.
That company, now known as USA Today Company, sold off all of the properties by 2018 and it no longer has a press or an office in Licking County.
The office and warehouse building has been sold several times since Gannett sold it, and it was most recently purchased in March for $1.4 million by “22 N. 1st LLC,” which Bubb said is owned by an investor.
“For us, it’s a heck of a buy,” Bubb told The Reporting Project. “It’s been sitting empty for a while and will need some work, but we will have some need in the future for space.”
He said all three commissioners have toured the building, and he expects the resolution will be approved. The county has no immediate plans for the building but saw it as a good investment for the county and downtown Newark.
“We couldn’t begin to acquire that much land downtown for that price,” Bubb said. “And to build something like that now would be a $30 million project.”
After a purchase contract is signed, perhaps as soon as Thursday, the county will do inspections and could close on the property before the end of the year.”
Southwest District
Commissioners updated on disaster declarations related to recent storms
Highland County Press, October 3, 2026
Highland County commissioners Terry Britton, David Daniels and Brad Roades heard updates on recent disaster declarations in connection with August and September storms during their Wednesday, Sept. 30 meeting.
Highland County Job & Family Services director Jeremy Ratcliff shared a copy of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s state of emergency proclamation with commissioners and discussed related financial assistance available for those qualifying.
As previously reported, Governor DeWine has declared a state of emergency in Highland and other counties as a result of severe flooding beginning Sept. 9.
“I was notified on Monday that we would be receiving some additional allocations, and so those funds have been deposited, so to speak, to our financial statements,” Ratcliff said. “We have some extra money for folks that were impacted by the flooding and could come out and apply. It is means tested, so they would need to be under 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
“We have a very, very small additional allocation for folks that don't necessarily meet that income requirement.”
Ratcliff said that up to $1,500 is available for means-tested individuals or up to $750 for those outside the income requirements “to help out with deductibles or damage, whatever it may be.”
For more information, Ratclilff said to watch the Highland County Department of Job and Family Services Facebook page for updates.
On a related note, Highland County EMA Director David Bushleman provided an update on both the September flooding and the August derecho.
For the flooding, which “covered from Sept. 9-Sept. 22,” Bushelman said he submitted “13 damage assessments for individual assistance” with the state. There were no public assistance requests, which could have been submitted by “townships, county engineers, schools” and other municipalities, Bushelman said.
“All of that for the flooding has been submitted to the state, and we just wait and see what the governor does with it, if it will be sent on up to the president for a federal declaration,” Bushelman said.
Daniels asked about the village of Greenfield, which suffered “some pretty extensive damage” due to the flooding.
“I have sent it to all the townships, village of Greenfield, engineer’s office, everybody,” Bushelman said. “I sent it out at least three times, I know. Some of them I talked to personally, and nobody submitted any public assistance.”
Southeast District
Vinton County officials working to tally up damage from ‘generational flood’
Athens Messenger, October 2, 2026
Though the floodwaters have receded, Vinton County officials are only just beginning to grasp the extent of the flooding which left dozens of families homeless and destroyed hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of crops, homes, roads and other property.
In the meantime, Vinton County officials are figuring out how to provide shelter and storage space to those who need it.
The county already ordered dumpsters to provide people a place to throw away ruined items, Kevin Cozad, the vice president of the Vinton County Board of Commissioners, explained.
“People lost everything. If they had three feet of water in there, they lost their mattresses, their beds, their clothes,” Cozad said. “There’s nowhere to put that stuff and nobody’s got a lot of storage units open.”
County roads have returned to service, but many township roads remain out of commission or have sustained damage, with total repair costs estimated at around $400,000, Vinton County Engineer DePue explained.
“The township trustees and their roads suffered much worse damage because they’re all gravel surfaced,” DePue said. “I have paved roads, which survive much better in that kind of [flooded] environment.”
The damage in Vinton County goes far beyond washed out roads. Many farmers saw their fields completely flooded, their crops washed away.
Some farmers who were on track to experience record harvests now found themselves with no saleable crops ahead of the fall harvest, DePue explained.
Similarly, dozens of families in Vinton County are displaced due to their homes being flooded and washed away, though the true extent of the displacement remains unknown.
Officially, 60 people were displaced as a result of the storm, according to figures from the Vinton County Emergency Management Agency (EMA).
However, it is likely others who were displaced are staying with family or are squatting in what remains of their flooded homes, Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain explained.
Along with homes, many Vinton County residents lost their cars as a result of flooding. Some cars were water-damaged beyond repair, while other cars were carried away and remain unaccounted for.
Many rivers and streams throughout Vinton County are now filled with debris as a result of the flooding. Top OCTOBER 9
CCAO Board of Directors Meeting
OCTOBER 12
Columbus Day - Holiday
OCTOBER 14
CCAO/CEAO Northwest District Meeting (Putnam County)
OCTOBER 16
CCAO Board of Directors Meeting (Virtual)
OCTOBER 30
CEBCO Board of Directors Meeting Top
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