BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—During Tuesday’s regular council meeting, Bucyrus City Auditor Kali Lewis presented the year-end financial report for 2024 to the Bucyrus City Council. While the city managed to control spending and achieve a slight increase in revenue, Lewis emphasized the urgent need to explore new revenue streams to meet rising costs associated with essential services and infrastructure.
“In 2024, the City of Bucyrus managed to keep its spending under control with total revenue in the General Fund reaching $5,544,697.72 against expenditures of $5,404,501.48,” Lewis reported. The Safety Forces Fund saw similar trends, generating $4,880,353.11 in revenue while expenditures amounted to $4,866,220.92. However, Lewis cautioned that the city’s primary revenue sources—income and property taxes—are not expanding at a pace that can accommodate increasing demands.
Lewis highlighted that while there were modest increases in certain areas, the reliance on income and property taxes presents limitations. Key revenue sources include:
- Property Taxes: $475,178.10
- Income Taxes: $3,621,876.87
- Local Government Funds: $262,585.27
- Grants: Notably, two significant Covid Assistance grants for police and fire funds ended in 2024.
As the city grapples with a budget that allocates $6,116,305.46 for public safety, $2,428,267.44 for street maintenance, and $1,828,061.28 for debt service, Lewis warned that rising costs for salaries, materials, and services will only heighten financial pressures. “The city is in a tenuous financial position,” she stated, urging the council to find new revenue sources to avoid difficult choices in the future.
The presentation was met with concern from several residents. Bucyrus resident Greg White called for transparency from the council, criticizing proposed raises for non-union employees and suggesting a wage freeze for six months. “A $4.25 an hour raise across the board is too much,” he argued, adding that he opposed an additional dollar an hour raise on the books for the council clerk, Miranda Wise, bringing her raise to an additional $5.25 per hour.
Another resident, Gary Miller, expressed discontent over the elimination of the out-of-town worker tax credit, arguing that citizens should not be double-taxed due to limited job opportunities in their communities. He urged the council to address the lack of financial support from the state government, which has been diminished under current Republican leadership.
Melody Ellis, of Bucyrus, questioned the council’s efforts to increase tax revenue and retain young residents, criticizing them for failing to implement effective strategies. She expressed skepticism about the council’s ability to promote upcoming levies, indicating that the recent levy was doomed due to a lack of promotion and the boots-on-the-ground promotion of the levy by council members. She also warned the council that if they revoked the out-of-town workers tax credit, she would never vote for another levy, whether it be a new or renewal levy.
Concerns were also raised regarding council safety measures, with Robert Taylor highlighting the irony of metal detectors being implemented for visitors while at the same time a policeman is pulling overtime to stand guard at the meeting. Taylor told the council he’s sick of the threats to eliminate the out-of-town workers tax credit. “You’re constantly threatening and talking about taking it. Just take it. You’re gonna need the money. There are no policy changes,” he stated, calling for the council to listen to citizen concerns more effectively.
In response to public input, Finance Chairman Kevin Myers announced plans to schedule hearings or special meetings aimed at garnering additional public feedback on the city’s financial challenges. Committee meetings are set to take place Thursday evening in the council chambers. The public is encouraged to attend.
Crawford County Now will continue to cover this developing story.