The following item is a written record of the Summit County Council meeting from March 2, compiled by Akron Documenter Wittman Sullivan. It is not a reported story.
Documenters are residents who are trained to observe and document local government meetings. Their notes are edited before publication for clarity and accuracy — unless quotation marks are used, all text is paraphrased.
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Summary
- Representatives from the Western Reserve Area of Summit County Narcotics Anonymous (WRASCNA) spoke about a free peer-led 12-step program that anybody can join as long as they want to quit using drugs.
- Summit County Director of Finance and Budget Phil Montgomery said overall revenue for the county is up 4.85% year-over-year to $178.5 million. Investment earnings are higher than anticipated. In 2028 and 2029, Montgomery forecasts some deficit spending if the county “stays business as usual.”
- Summit County Council unanimously approved $41.8 million in appropriations in item 2026-045, including $2.5 million for engineering and approving grants for the probate court and Summit County Common Pleas Court.
Documenter follow-up questions
- Is the WRASCNA a religious organization? How is it similar to or different from Alcoholics Anonymous?
- At-Large Council Member and President Erin Dickinson started the meeting at 4:30 p.m. All members were present except for At-Large Council Member Elizabeth Walters.
Summit County revenue rises along with investments
- Summit County Director of Finance and Budget Phil Montgomery said the general fund revenue report for 2025 ended strong.
- Overall revenue in 2025 was up 4.85% at the end of 2025 ($178.5 million) compared to 2024 ($170.3 million). 2025 revenue was $14.4 million over original estimates.
- Property tax revenue increased 7% year-over-year ($2.2 million).
- County sales tax revenue increased 2.3%, and the $1.1 million reimbursement from the state ($900,000) and local governments for the sales tax holiday was received.
- Reimbursements from Ohio Public Defenders (OPD) were up $3 million, due to increases in the Summit County Legal Defenders contract and the OPD reimbursement rates in 2025 vs. 2024.
- Real estate-related fees increased.
- Parking deck revenues are up 6.3%.
- Investment earnings were down 1% year-over-year, with 2025 ending at $21.8 million (compared to $22 million at the end of 2024.) Conservative projections for 2025 were $16.1 million.
- Montgomery said this discrepancy is due to the timing of capital projects, which allowed the county to hold onto cash longer and realize additional investment earnings. He also said that this account was around $2 million pre-2020.
- The core portfolio (U.S. Treasury notes and various bonds) in the last 2 1/2 years has increased from $320 million (at the end of 2023) to $475 million (at the end of 2025).
(Editor’s note: These numbers are slightly different than the amount Montgomery shared during the meeting,. He clarified that he misspoke on the investment numbers.) …