Representatives from Ohio's Fiscal Commission, including Trumbull Co. Auditor Martha Yoder, gathered in Vienna Twp. Monday to review the trustee's financial recovery plan.

With the township's deficit over $1 million, Ohio's Fiscal Commission approved a plan as a way to get the township out of fiscal emergency by the end of 2027.

This comes as former Vienna Twp. Fiscal Officer McCullough was charged with two counts of theft in office, telecommunications fraud, and four counts of tampering with records back in October. 

Township trustees approved the plan last week on December 23, which includes adding a 3.5 mil fire levy on next November's ballot. If passed, that levy would replace two existing 1 mil levies and could bring in $430,000 to $500,000 each year.

"This meeting with the commission went as well as it could have," Trustee Mike Haddle told 21 News. "The big part we have going forward is we need a new levy on the ballot. This could get us out of fiscal emergency sooner rather than letting the funds generate back on its own."

"It gets them on a path to where they need to be, in accordance with out of debt and to a balanced budget," said Mike Hillman of the Ohio Fiscal Commission. "It's not incumbent on this board. We're not the legislature or voters, but the taxpayers are going to have to vote on those levies. If those fail, we have to start over on the plan."

"The levy is intended to get EMS back up," explained Trustee Phil Pegg. "As well as repair a bunch of equipment that needs it."

The plan also includes keeping traffic cameras up in the township as a way to keep up with its looming $1 million deficit.

"The total amount brought in by those levies is just over $200k," Pegg explained. "Which is nowhere near where we need to be to run the fire department."

"Unfortunately, fixing this situation will take a tax increase to do it," Hillman said. "There's no other path forward. Unless the voters don't want those services."

The plan also includes continued use of speed cameras by the police department.

Trustee Haddle told 21 News EMS services could be up and running as early as July 2025. "I would definitely try to bring it back no later than January of 2026," he added. But, working with our Fire Chief, I'm aiming for the third quarter of 2025."

Trustee Richard Dascenzo was not present at Monday's meeting and was also absent at two previous trustee meetings this month. 

A permanent fiscal officer could be hired in January.

 

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