Scioto County is in great financial shape to start off the new year. At Tuesday’s Scioto County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Davis could barely contain his excitement at the county’s fiscal progress in the face of a global pandemic that’s left many local governments financially crippled.
Despite state-mandated COVID-19 shutdowns of businesses, the county’s sales tax revenue was actually up year-to-year for 11 out of the 12 months of 2020.
Davis said, “Our carryover is now over $7 million, which is a huge accomplishment.”
Why are Scioto County finances in great shape despite COVID? The commissioner credited a fiscally conservative attitude that allowed the county to have enough money on hand to weather the pandemic without major cuts to county services. He quoted late Commissioner Mike Crabtree. “You can’t do anything without money.”
Courthouse Will Be Pristine By 100th Birthday
Davis said having cash on hand ensures the county can apply for matching grants and attend to critical infrastructure needs. There’s even enough money to get the historic Scioto County Courthouse looking her best in time for a 100th birthday celebration in 2027. The next step is plaster repair in the auditor and treasurer’s office to be performed by an area company. He said the goal is to make sure the courthouse is in pristine condition by 2027. “We got some big projects in the future that will really change the landscape.”
That’s not the only good news about Scioto County finances during COVID. The commissioners also cited exciting employment news for Scioto County. While employment has skyrocketed in some areas during the pandemic, Scioto County has its lowest unemployment rate since 2011. November’s numbers showed it at 5.8%. Davis said, “We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re getting there.”
Commissioners Coleman and Davis hinted that even more exciting economic developments are on the horizon for the new year, though they declined to go into detail. Davis said, “Let’s keep our heads up and keep moving in the right direction. We accomplished quite a bit in 2021 but there’s some big stuff planned for 2021. We’re really working hard and our staff is working hard. We just have to keep moving forward.”