While local governments stand to gain $70 million more in state funding during the next two years, most cities and large villages will see a chunk of that money redirected elsewhere.
The overall increase, to $782.8 million in the next two years, comes because local funding is tied to an overall jump in state revenue. But in the newly passed state budget, lawmakers redirected millions away from those communities toward townships and small villages and to pay for more police training.
Even with the projected increase, local government funding during the next two years is expected to be more than $623 million less than it was in 2008-2009, according to state statistics.
Communities use money from the local government fund to pay for general expenses, from road repair to fire and police departments.
The budget gives an additional $20 million to townships and $2 million more to small villages to spend how they like.
The townships will likely use the money for road repair, as well as other things such as road salt for the winter and cemetery maintenance, said Matt DeTemple, executive director of the Ohio Township Association. As the money isn’t guaranteed to continue after two years, DeTemple said, townships likely won’t use it to hire permanent employees.
DeTemple said while his organization didn’t push to divert money from cities and large villages, townships are “very grateful” for the added assistance. “Every little bit helps,” he said.
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