MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon City Council members appropriated just over $66.62 million for 2026, down slightly from the $67.52 million for 2025.
Appropriations include $16,327,677 in the general fund and $50,294,299 in the non-general fund. Approximately $2 million in the general fund was not appropriated.
The non-general fund includes revenue from utilities, grants, tax increment financing districts, and other restricted revenue.
Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers anticipates carryovers of $13.7 million in the non-general fund and $1.78 million in the general fund.
However, he said the city will not necessarily spend the amount appropriated.
For example, several funds include money appropriated for additional personnel.
“The appropriation exists, but the authorization [from council] does not,” Salyers said.
He noted the administration will not move forward with filling those positions until it feels comfortable with the economy.
Other departmental appropriations fluctuate due to realignments or consolidations of line items.
For example, the council’s appropriation increased because it now pays for the council clerk. Bond retirement funds now reflect individual projects.
“The biggest change in the general fund is we created a code enforcement department,” Salyers said.
Previously, the city had a property maintenance officer. Now that the line item includes a city inspector, an assistant inspector, and a potential administrative assistant.
The administrative assistant would be a shared position with utilities since the city inspector has assumed responsibility for some utility functions.
Capital improvement projects
The non-general fund includes just over $16 million for capital improvement projects.
Projects include the Arch Park restroom, Norton Street aqueduct repair, Memorial Park improvements, Blackjack wetland project, and four blocks of brick street repair.
Of that $16 million for capital improvements, the council earmarked roughly $2.5 million for road resurfacing (asphalt) and chip seal.
“People are going to see a lot of construction going on on the city’s part throughout the city,” Salyers said.
Effect of potential state legislation
Mayor Matt Starr previously expressed concern about Ohio House Bill 296, which increases the amount municipalities must pay into police and fire pensions.
Salyers was not too concerned because the state has not made changes.
“Even if they do increase it, I feel like 2026 is going to be okay. But if we bring on more police or fire, then we’re going to have to look at what that will look like, especially with the potential changes to property tax,” he said.
Salyers said if the state requires municipalities “to start forking out more for police and fire,” he hopes everyone realizes that it will cost the city more.
“The city does not naturally have more money. We have to take it from another service, or it has to come from tax dollars or service dollars. We’ll have to find out where that money will come from, or we’ll have to make a cut,” he said.
“We have budgeted in a way that the appropriations account for all salaries, but not all salaries are pensionable. So there is a little cushion.”
As far as the budget process itself, council members could access the worksheets from the start.
“I think because of that, the transparency internally on the budget process has increased a hundred fold,” Salyers said.
Incoming council members Taylor Jacklin and Dale Miller participated in the process.
“I really appreciate this current council because we as an administration have asked a lot of them,” he said.
“This council has laid the groundwork for the next council. I feel like a lot of the hard work has been done, and it’s going to be managing the projects moving forward.”
(Below are the 2026 appropriations.)