NORTH CANTON ‒ The city has been able to put off its budgetary day of reckoning for another year, but that day is coming, a North Canton official is warning.
Benjamin Young, deputy director of administration, recently presented the proposed 2025 budget that would spend about $1.09 million more than its revenue. Under the proposal, the city would spend nearly $17 million next year from the general fund and more than $47 million from all funds, including the fire and EMS levies and the water fund.
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Young warned as much has been cut without impacting services. The city will need to scale back a vital service, seek a tax increase or a combination of both in 2026.
North Canton’s cash levels
Young’s eye is on the city’s general fund cash balance, expected to be $6.84 million on Jan. 1.
If city council approves the proposed budget, that balance is expected to drop to $5.75 million by the end of next year. Because much of the income tax revenue isn’t paid out until April, the city should always have on hand roughly $4 million in general-fund reserves or at least a quarter of the annual general-fund revenue, Young said.