Vienna begins planning for fiscal recovery | News, Sports, Jobs

VIENNA — During the fourth meeting of the canton’s fiscal commission Monday, officials stressed how next November’s elections would be critical to the canton’s recovery, noting that two levies and two administrator seats could be on the ballot. ballot.

Tisha Turner and Angela DeNunzio, representing the auditor’s office, presented the municipality’s financial recovery plan, which was presented to trustees before last week’s meeting. It provides a recovery forecast for the next five years while also looking at the last three years. The plan should be modified as needed, but at least once a year, according to the document.

Committee Chairman Matt Sladek questioned the sharp drop in traffic camera revenue projected in 2026 compared to 2025.

Administrator Mike Haddle explained that the drops came from accounting for the possibility that he and Richard Dascenzo might not return and that new administrators would remove the cameras altogether.

“So the thought process behind this is: I’m running for office and Richard is in November 2025.” Haddle said. “If we are both voted out and the two new administrators end the program, then what will happen is until 2026 you will still receive individual payments in the long term, but it will not be the total amount.”

“November (2025) will be a big election for the commune of Vienne, because you have two administrators; Dascenzo probably won’t run, Mike is running for office, your financial agent, whoever he is, he’ll be running for office,” said outgoing finance manager Corrine Hardman. “You’re going to have a fire replacement tax and a police renewal tax.”

Trumbull County Auditor Martha Yoder said there have been legislative discussions about eliminating alternative levies altogether in the interest of transparency.

“Many people think that when there is a replacement levy, it is not understandable to the general public that their taxes will increase with the replacement budget,” » Yoder said. “With (a) renewal, there is no increase in taxes because you are actually working on the new taxable values ​​as you determine what the effective rate is.”

Haddle suggested different scenarios for the future regarding both taxes and traffic cameras.

“No levies, all levies renewed, no traffic cameras, until fire levies are increased and police levies renewed and traffic cameras maintained until the end of 2028,” Haddle said. “We’ve talked about getting rid of it within two or three years, to see where it goes – until the end of 2028, to see where it’s at.”

Haddle said they estimate a potential of $24,000 per month from traffic cameras. They want to choose the best scenario for the future, he added, noting that Sean Stimac, a Vienna resident and member of the budget committee, pointed out the cameras’ lack of popularity.

Cindy Johnson, vice chair of the committee, said she found it “hard to believe” that township residents would vote for a fire and EMS tax if they did not have these services.

Haddle acknowledged the need to begin providing services, adding that administrators were working with a grant writer to see if they could find funding.

“We missed a few years of SAFER grants and stuff like that, but those are for full-time employees and you have to pay them before you get back.” Haddle said. “We can’t pay our employees and then get the money back if we don’t have money to spend in the first place.”

Hardman said there are still 2023 bills that have not been paid in total “a few thousand dollars” when the committee asked about remaining expenses. The township still owes $430,000 for 2024, she added.

Turner said those expenses will be easy to identify because Hardman and Tom Shay, assistant to the finance manager, have been “really good” concerning the establishment of charges and purchase orders.

Hardman said she doesn’t know where things stand in the city’s search for her replacement. Shay said his last day is Saturday, the same as Hardman, but he could return if they find a replacement.

Haddle said administrators plan to review the stimulus package on Dec. 3. The budget committee plans to meet again at 5:30 p.m. on December 30.