MOUNT VERNON — Meeting Tuesday in its first session of the new year, the Knox County Board of Commissioners appropriated nearly $64 million in the 2025 non-general fund operating budget.
The non-general fund (NGF) handles revenue from sources intended for a specific use. Following are a few examples of NGF accounts:
•Levies such as Knox DD, Knox County Job & Family Services, park district, 911, and seniors.
•Vehicle license fees for the county engineer’s office.
•Grants.
•Bond payments.
“These funds have to be spent for the intended purpose for what they were set up for,” County Administrator Jason Booth said. “None of departments can budget more than their estimated revenue and the revenue they have on hand.”
The anticipated NGF revenue for 2025 is slightly more than $59 million. The 82 funds had a combined carryover of $34 million.
Of the total $93M available, the commissioners appropriated $63,900,921.
The 2024 NGF appropriations were $63,982.650.
The 2025 appropriations include $1M for capital improvements. The capital improvement fund balance stands at $3.7M; approximately $2.5 million is intended for the new transit hub on West High Street.
“We did receive notice from the Ohio Department of Transportation that we made it through the state historical preservation office, and the project is now waiting for the FTA (Federal Transit Administration) funding of that project,” Booth said.
He anticipates a kickoff meeting for the new facility late this month.
“It’s been about four years in the making, but we’re getting close,” Booth said.
Appropriations also include $500,000 each for the service center, courthouse, and sheriff’s office/jail capital project funds.
Last year, the Board of Commissioners created a dedicated capital project fund for the Knox County Board of Elections. The 2025 NGF includes $200,000 appropriated into that account.
Miscellaneous
The board elected Commissioner Bill Pursel as president and Commissioner Drenda Kessee as vice president.
Pursel said the Environmental Protection Agency requires the DKMM Solid Waste District to update policies every five years. Every township, village, and city in the county will receive and is required to sign off on the update.
He noted it is not clear what happens if the jurisdictions do not sign off other than the EPA can fine the recycling program for noncompliance.
The commissioners will also sign off on the update after hearing from the other entities.
Pursel also said constituents will see an Ohio Public Works Commission issue on the May primary ballot (Renewal of Bonding Authority).
Every 10 years, Ohio requires voters to authorize the use of state monies to support issuing general obligation bonds. The OPWC uses the money the bonds generate to help fund transportation, utilities, conservation, and revolving loan projects.
Knox County gets $1.2M to $1.5M in OPWC funds each year between the townships, villages, and City of Mount Vernon.
“The county and the townships rely on the OPWC funds,” Pursel said.
“If it doesn’t pass, that money disappears for us. So we encourage people to pass that in May, knowing it’s coming down the pike and that it’s certainly a benefit to our Knox County residents.”
Legislative action
The commissioners took the following actions:
•Organizational activities for 2025, including appointing committee assignments, reappointing various staff members as clerk/deputy clerk, ADA compliance officer, public information officer, and fiscal designees.
•Approved letter of support for the Knox County Park District – Knox County Chapter of the Ohio Horseman’s Council Small Grant proposal.
•Tabled a resolution opposing the Frasier Solar project.
•Approved placing a public notice for a hearing to restrict solar facilities and wind farms in the unincorporated areas of the county.
•Approved deposit and investment income report for December 2024 in the amount of $151,047.60, including the General Fund interest income of $12,901.38.