Hiram Twp. – At their last meeting, Hiram Township Trustees voted unanimously to approve Resolution 2018-54, to approve and accept the Portage County Budget Commission’s alternative method of apportioning and distributing the Local Government Fund.
Under this agreement townships, which in previous years have received 14.34% of the Local Government Fund, will receive 19.018% of future distributions. Cities, which in the past have received 37.12% will now receive 34.741%. While villages have received 8.74% in the past, they will now receive 6.441%; however that amount will be divided among fewer villages, since Brady Lake is no longer part of the distribution formula. The county will continue to receive 39.8% of the funds; they agreed to decline the proposed 50% distribution recommended by the State’s new formula.
The changes will take place beginning in 2019.
The new disbursements would be in effect for five years in lieu of the usual 10-year time period, so that the next iteration of the funding formula would take into account results of the 2020 census. Trustee Jack Groselle, who served as the township’s representative at the meetings, which took place over the last few months among local officials from across Portage County, noted that every municipality within Portage County needed to pass a similar resolution in September to provide to County Auditor Janet Esposito accepting the terms of the agreement before the alternative plan can be instituted. He noted that Hiram Township’s resolution will serve as a template for other communities within the County.
In other news, Trustee Steve Pancost reported that PC Regional Planning Director Todd Peetz is working on a grant for the Hiram Township park. More information will be forthcoming in October.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Hiram Township Trustees will be held on Tuesday, October 16th at 7 pm; residents are encouraged to attend.
