Toledo Finance Committee Meeting - April 28, 2026: Revenue Report and Water Collection Update

The Finance, Debt, and Budget Oversight Committee met on April 28, 2026, to review March 2026 revenue and expenditure reports, receive an update on water bill collections, and hear from the City Auditor. Chair Surantwood presided. Members present: Surantwood, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbs, Jones, Martinez (four present at roll call).

Discussion Items

Finance Department Report – March Revenue & Expenditures

• Tax Commissioner John Zavisha reported March income tax collections: withholding down $232,000, business down $8,000, individual up $28,000, for a net shortfall of approximately $260,000. Year-to-date total city revenue stands at $39.2 million. April is a key month, with an expected $20–25 million in collections. The full-year income tax collection target is $246.5 million. IRS collections are down $60,000 year-over-year due to system conversions with the Ohio Attorney General.
• General fund revenues: $61.7 million collected (16.9% of budget). Property tax settlements in line; license and permit revenue ahead due to a one-time $350,000 permit. Intergovernmental revenues (homestead, rollback, JEDDs, casino) not yet received. Charges for service at 16.5%; EMS/BLS transport includes a pending county payment. Court fees and fines at 25.6%.
• General fund expenditures: labor at $91.5 million (23.5% of budget), $255,000 above budget year-to-date. Fire overtime is at 35% but expected to decrease after a recent class graduated in late February. Urban beautification spending at 41% due to encumbrances for demolition programs.

Department of Public Utilities (DPU) – Water Bill Collection Update

• DPU presented a monthly report on installment plans and collections, as requested by the committee. As of March 2026:
  • Residential payment plan accounts: 5,200+ active; $571,921 collected in March, year-to-date total $1,555,350.
  • Total scheduled to be paid under residential installment plans: $6.3 million.
  • Outstanding affordability balances (cumulative): residential $10.2 million collected, commercial $4.7 million, industrial $943,000; total collected $15.8 million (approximately 26% of total outstanding $61.7 million).
• No interest or penalties are charged on installment plans. DPU is developing a plan to resume residential water shutoffs, which have been under moratorium since 2020. A comprehensive plan covering non-payment disconnection, reconnection, debt forgiveness, and customer assistance will be presented to the Water Committee on May 13, 2026.
• DPU noted the total uncollected amount fluctuates daily; previous figures of $66 million differ from the $61.7 million in the report.
• Chair Surantwood asked about winter averaging on sewer bills (ended previously). DPU confirmed a pool discount starts May 1st; the irrigation program is under development but not ready for the May 13th presentation.
• Councilmember Jones inquired about repeat payment plan users and communication methods. DPU uses Promise Pay, text reminders, and email through the MyTOL portal. The water tap program for new applications remains paused; DPU hopes to resume in 1–2 months.

City Auditor’s Report

• City Auditor John Ravalsky reported the grass cutting audit is in progress; observational components are being added for the mowing season, and the report is expected at the end of Q2 2026. The Audit Advisory Committee met to review the 2024 audit results and provided recommendations, which will be shared with finance.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes or decisions were taken.
• DPU will present a detailed water collection, disconnection, and customer assistance plan to the Water Committee on May 13, 2026.
• The water tap program for new applications is expected to resume within 1–2 months.
• The grass cutting audit will be released at the end of Q2 2026.
• The meeting adjourned with no public comments.