Finance, Debt, and Budget Oversight Committee Meeting - March 24, 2026

The Finance, Debt, and Budget Oversight Committee met on March 24, 2026, at 9:00 AM. The meeting included updates on DPU past-due collection efforts, the Department of Finance's monthly report covering tax collections, general fund revenues and expenditures, CIP, ARPA, and wage and hour compliance. No public comments were heard.

DPU Past-Due Collection Efforts Update

• Chief Robson presented a monthly report on installment plans and collections. As of February 2026, there were over 5,200 residential payment plan accounts, with $45,000 collected in February and $93,000 year-to-date. Commercial high-strength industrial accounts have collected over $145,000. The total estimated collections since efforts began is approximately $5.5 million (including commercial).
• The department is developing a phased process for water shutoffs, aiming to present a comprehensive customer assistance plan within the next month. Chairman Sarantu emphasized fairness to the 95% of ratepayers who pay their bills and urged urgency.
• Vice Chair Driscoll asked about reporting delinquencies to credit agencies; currently not done. He noted that without that tool, shutoffs are the only enforcement mechanism, and delinquency costs are built into rates for all customers.
• Councilmember Gaddis asked about the customer assistance grant program and senior discounts. The department will provide data on potential eligibility. Community groups (Power of Junction, Broadway Corridor Coalition, One Voice) have offered to help with outreach.
• The next report will include a running total of collections and is due at the next meeting on April 29, 2026.

Department of Finance Report

Income Tax Collections (Commissioner Zavisha)

• Through February 2026, overall income tax collections are down $371,358 year-over-year, but less than 8% of annual collections have been received, making early trends unreliable. Withholding is down 1.7%; net profits are slightly down. The 2025 unaudited tax number is now mostly final, with the 13th period closed.
• The compliance unit collected $21,000 more than last year to date; the second-best year ($6.2 million) was 2025.
• Chairman Sarantu asked about top-75 employer trends; Commissioner Zavisha noted it is too early, but they monitor for one-time payments vs. ongoing changes.
• Vice Chair Driscoll inquired about the 2026 budget projection given known 2025 figures; the department expects a bounce-back in net profits and is introducing new programs estimated to bring in $4 million. They will reassess after April data.
• The new Ohio Attorney General program (assigned $2.6 million) has collected $249,000. The IRS data matching unit (STACKS) has brought in $880,000.

General Fund Revenues and Expenditures (Director Campbell)

• General fund revenues are at 8.6% of budget through February (vs. 10.6% last year); the variance is mainly due to property tax settlement timing. Expenditures are at 14.2% of budget, with positive variances in labor and service/supply costs. Fire overtime is above budget but expected to improve after a recent fire recruit class graduation.
• Councilmember Hobbs asked about upcoming police and fire retirements and staffing impacts; Director Campbell noted typical retirements of 20–30 per year but will provide more specific projections.

CIP and ARPA Reports

• Capital Improvement Program (CIP) has about $133 million in active projects.
• ARPA: $12.6 million remains unspent; the performance period ends in December 2026. Vice Chair Driscoll stressed the need for departments to have concrete spending plans to avoid a last-minute scramble. Chairman Sarantu clarified that any leftover funds must be used for similar purposes.
• Councilmember Jones requested that future ARPA reports include a column showing the percentage of funds expended. Director Campbell agreed to add it.
• Councilmember Martinez asked about the Starbase project; Councilmember Gaddis clarified that build-out is continuing but the original Department of Defense program has changed. The city is working with the Metro Parks on the space.

Wage and Hour Compliance (Commissioner Morey)

• Approximately 9,300 postcards and 20,000 emails were sent to employers notifying them of the new wage-theft ordinance posting requirement. Eleven employee complaints have been processed to date (average recovery $1,575).
• One case went to court and settled this morning, recovering $3,000 for the employee.
• Through field enforcement (focusing on owner-pulled permits and misclassification), the division has recovered over $1 million in owed taxes, averaging $9,000 per week.
• Councilmember Martinez asked about potential abuse of the complaint system; Commissioner Morey said the division has discretion to decline cases lacking evidence.

Key Outcomes

• The next committee meeting is scheduled for April 29, 2026, at 4:00 PM.
• Chief Robson will provide a running total of DPU collections and a comprehensive customer assistance plan at that meeting.
• Future ARPA reports will include an expended percentage column.
• The Finance Department will continue to monitor tax collections and report on budget concerns after first quarter data.
• The wage and hour division will continue field enforcement and expects increased call volume due to the new posting requirement.