Petition to Add Two Citizens to Geauga County Budget Commission

Editor’s note: Local residents are circulating a petition to add a referendum to the ballot in the next general election (November 2024). It would read “Shall the county budget commission consist of two additional members to be elected from the county?” This petition does not name who those members will be – it simply asks Geauga County voters to decide if our county should add two elected members to the commission. Sign up for our Newsletter to see updates on this issue.

by Skip Claypool

Join me in circulating a petition to add two citizens to the Geauga County Budget Commission 

Geauga County has a budget commission that is created by Ohio law.  The Geauga County Budget Commission is comprised of the Auditor, Prosecutor, and the Treasurer. Their role is to review and comment on government budgets across the county. Given recent property tax increases and levies that have created a heavy tax burden for our citizens, it seems to be a good idea to have citizens on this board as part of the review. Watch dogs so to speak.  In Ohio law that is possible. 

Ohio Revised Code 5705.27 provides a provision for providing two elected citizens on the budget commission.   This is done by a referendum.   Putting citizens on the budget commission would make a difference.  Having citizens oversight on the budgeting process in Geauga County would help to ensure that elected officials, who can benefit from decisions, do not have free reign in the important process.  Having two elected citizens would make a difference and help to protect the citizen taxpayers in our community.  Join me in completing a petition.  We will need 2500 signatures by June.  Please help to circulate petitions.   To join me Email: skip@skipclaypool.com and I will provide a copy of the petition. 

The following is the ORC 5705.27 Section and what it says: “There is hereby created in each county a county budget commission consisting of the county auditor, the county treasurer, and the prosecuting attorney. Upon petition filed with the board of elections, signed by the number of electors of the county equal in amount to three per cent of the total number of votes cast for governor at the most recent election therefor, there shall be submitted to the electors of the county at the next general election occurring not sooner than ninety days after the filing of the petition, the question “Shall the county budget commission consist of two additional members to be elected from the county?”

Join me in keeping our government honest.