The commissioners have finalized Tuscarawas County’s 2025 spending plan.
The board on Monday approved just over 37-million-dollars in general fund expenses for the New Year or about 4.4-million less than projected revenue.
President Kristen Zemis says the high cost of specialized foster care remains a budget breaker for communities everywhere.
“It’s a larger problem, it’s a statewide problem, and I think the legislature need to act.”
Foster care costs in the county were up to 3.9-million-dollars in the first 11 months of this year and could reach 5-million in 2025.
The budget does include some capital improvements and 4-percent raises for county employees, who are being asked to pay slightly more toward their health insurance premiums.
“Beginning January 1st, the county will cover 92% of premium versus the 93% last year.”
It also doesn’t help that county employees get an extra paycheck next year, which amounts to about a half-million dollars in additional payroll costs.
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