MOUNT VERNON — Thursday, the Knox County Commissioners adopted a $74.7 million 2024 non-general fund budget.
Non-general fund (NGF) revenue comes from various sources. Most of the sources are dedicated to a specific purpose.
For example, vehicle license fees go only to the county engineer’s office. Similarly, park levy money is restricted for the park district.
Other sources include state and federal grants, contract revenues, and levies.
The county commissioners can also allocate general fund money to subsidize NGF funds.
“If you roll out the entire non-general fund budget, which includes Knox Public Health anticipated revenue, $99.4 million will come in through the county treasury in 2024,” County Administrator Jason Booth said.
“That’s a big number.”
Of the anticipated $74.7M, the commissioners appropriated $63.98M across 98 funds. The unappropriated $10.7M is held in reserve because the revenue trickles in throughout the year rather than one lump sum on Jan. 1.
Additionally, some funds use their unappropriated money as the local grant match.
The total $63.982M in appropriations is down slightly from the $66.388M in 2023.
Non-general fund highlights
The NGF consists of 98 funds. Most had appropriations similar to 2023.
Significant changes include the 911 account, which dropped by $138,000 because of debt retirement. The 2022 payment was $230,337; the 2024 payment is $35,000.
The auditor’s fund increased by $554,258. Contract services for the triennial update account for much of the increase.
Other highlights include:
•Dog & kennel fund: $399,128, a $54,562 increase due in part to adding a fourth officer. Because vet care has been running higher than the $35,000 budgeted in 2023, the 2024 appropriation is $55,000.
•VOCA Grant (Victims of Crime Act): The general fund will subsidize $17,000 as a county match.
•Children’s services: The county’s general fund will subsidize $1 million of the nearly $6.2M budget.
•Emergency Management Agency: $100,000 from the general fund helps offset grants
•Knox Area Transit: an increase of $522,835, due partly to nearly $240,000 in equipment purchases. The county has applied for reimbursement but does not know how much it will receive. The general fund will also subsidize KAT $200,000 to help cover the anticipated costs of moving to its new location.
•OneOhio: $214,000 on hand, more to come at the end of 2024. Funds are held in reserve pending project selection.
•ARPA: Of the just under $2M remaining, $1.963M will go toward water/wastewater department projects.
•CDBG (Community Development Block Grant): $1.37M estimated to come in for the Brinkhaven sidewalk, Buckeye Addition, and Martinsburg water line projects
•Senior levy: $1.2M estimated revenue
•Soil & Water Conservation District: $552,607, subsidized by $217,000 from the general fund
•DKMM: $4,200, the amount remaining in the account. The Delaware-Knox-Marion-Morrow Solid Waste District offices will move from Knox to Morrow County in 2024; revenue will, therefore, go to Morrow County.
