Commissioners OK $84 million temporary 2027 tax budget, Children Services levy on November ballot

ELYRIA — The Lorain County commissioners approved a temporary $84 million county tax budget for 2027 at their regular meeting Friday. State law requires the board to approve a temporary budget every year. The 2027 budget will be worked out by the end of the year following a budget hearing that Commissioner David Moore said could get "ugly." The Chronicle-Telegram requested a copy of the 45-page document. Moore said elected officials and county departments have requested nearly $110 million in funding for 2027, leaving the county with an almost $17.5 million gap in projected available funds versus expected revenue, Moore and Commissioner Marty Gallagher said. "If those numbers are true, 17 million, there are gonna be some cuts," Gallagher said. Moore said for county elected officials whose budgets his board has final say over to expect not a debate, "but an education" during budget hearings this fall. At 6.5 percent on eligible purchases, Lorain County has one of the lowest sales tax rates in the state of Ohio. Moore said voters were clear last year when they rejected by a more-than 2-to-1 margin a 0.25 percent sales tax that would have raised nearly $14 million to help fund the Lorain County Sheriff's Office. Had that tax increase passed, it would have freed up money elsewhere in county government. Commissioners will be taking a hard look at mandated spending versus non-mandated spending in the coming months, Moore said, having promised earlier this year to shrink the size of Lorain County government. The 2026 county budget is $89.9 million. It was just over $86.7 million in 2025 and $84.4 million in 2024. Children Services levy Commissioners on Friday also approved putting a 0.45-mill, five-year additional levy on the November ballot to fund Lorain County Children Services. The agency protects at-risk, abused, neglected and vulnerable children and places them in safe living conditions as well as investigates claims of abuse. The agency's current levy funds a little over 50 percent of its budget with the rest coming from federal and state sources, Executive Director Kristen Fox Berki said. The cost to put at-risk children in safe homes or care rose 185 percent between 2021 and 2025, she said. She said the levy will cost the owner of a $100,000 home another $16 per year. "We are asking for additional funding. This is the first time we've had to do since 2014," Fox Berki said. "Protecting children is not optional. we are required by law to provide these essential services to children." ViaLC to continue Commissioners also signed an agreement extending the ViaLC microtransit van service in Elyria and Lorain by another six months at a cost of $1.22 million. River North Transit, a subsidiary of Via Transportation, will receive a little more than $1.2 million, commissioners said. ViaLC vans provide shared rides upon request through a smartphone app or by phone. They can be used to go to work, school, shopping, for medical appointments and other trips. More than 150,000 rides were provided between June 2024, when the service started in the county's two largest cities, and March this year. State and federal funding helps pay for the service. More information on ViaLC can be found online at city.ridewithvia.com/lorain. Commissioner Jeff Riddell was not present at Friday's meeting due to a death in his family. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.