Finance Committee Holds Hearing on Permissive Tax and FY 2026 Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 17, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT

Delaynie Potts

Village Clerk-Fiscal Officer and Assistant to the Executive

Telephone: (740) 742-2121, Ext. 1000

delaynie.potts@villageofrutland.org

RUTLAND, Ohio — The Rutland Village Council Committee on Finance held its first committee hearing on a trio of ordinances which would increase the annual permissive tax for the registration of motor vehicles, along with an ordinance adopting the Village's budget for fiscal year 2026.

Finance Committee Chair Carol Moore called the meeting to order, with members Delaynie Potts, Village Clerk-Fiscal Officer, and Tyler M. Eblin, Mayor, present. Visitors Dwaine Weber, Rutland Township Fiscal Officer, and Jeff Snowden, were also present.

The Committee considered ordinances 2025-40, 2025-41 and 2025-42, dubbed "sister ordinances", each of which would levy a $5.00 permissive tax for the registration of motor vehicles, adding $15.00 to the current permissive tax of $5.00. All ordinances are sponsored by Council President Christopher Saber.

Mayor Eblin explained the intent of the legislation is to supplement Village revenue specifically for street maintenance and repair to avoid a projected deficit in Village's street construction, maintenance and repair fund.

According to an analysis of the ordinance, the Department of Public Service, the Village department responsible for the maintenance of Village streets and other infrastructure, currently receives approximately $25,213.00 annually in tax revenue specifically restricted for street maintenance and repair, with $2,070.00 restricted for the maintenance and repair of State Route 124.

The Village's one percent income tax generates approximately $41,000.00 annually, of which half must be allocated for public safety to maintain police enforcement in the Village, according to Mayor Eblin.

Operating expenditures of the Department of Public Service are projected to total $40,000.00 annually. These expenditures include the salary of a part-time Street Commissioner and laborer, along with operating supplies and materials. Annual capital outlay required for long-term improvements is $25,000.00.

With the current revenue sources, and projected budget requirements, the Village budget would run a $19,000.00 deficit annually, a number Mayor Eblin says will compound quickly, and must be avoided by law. The permissive tax increases, once all three are implemented, are projected to generate an additional $12,000.00 in revenue to the Village's street fund, an amount which would otherwise require a two and one half to three mill property tax levy. An increase in the permissive tax rate, along with budget cuts elsewhere would be required to avoid a deficit in the Village's street fund, according to Mayor Eblin.

Weber expressed his concern of the ordinances, explaining that for some, their enactment could be costly, especially if an individual owned multiple vehicles, and urged the Village Council to reconsider adopting these ordinances. Mayor Eblin indicated increasing the permissive tax could be a less costly option to taxpayers than another property tax levy, but understood the need to consider a gradual implementation of the permissive tax increases, in lieu of implementing all increases at once.

Mayor Eblin reiterated revenue through permissive taxes can only be utilized for street maintenance and repair, as specified by Ohio law, such as street, sidewalk and storm sewer improvements, street cleaning and repair, and snow removal.

Snowden asked if the Village is responsible for replacing sidewalks. Mayor Eblin indicated sidewalk maintenance and repair is a shared responsibility by the Village and the abutting property owner, according to the Rutland Municipal Code. Eblin explained the Village could replace a defective sidewalk and assess the costs to a property owner, require the property owner to replace the sidewalk themselves, or the Village could replace the defective sidewalk utilizing tax dollars, which is a goal of the Village administration.

The Committee voted unanimously to recommend to the Village Council an amendment to render each ordinance effective over a three year period, with Ordinance 2025-40 becoming effective on January 1, 2027; Ordinance 2025-41 on January 1, 2028 and Ordinance 2025-42 on January 1, 2029. The proposed amendments would need to be accepted by the sponsor, and adopted by the Village Council during its next regular meeting to be incorporated into the text of the legislation.

In other matters, the Committee reviewed the Village's budget for fiscal year 2026. The Committee voted on a series of recommended amendments to Ordinance 2026-07, sponsored by Councilmember Shawna Davis, including eliminating the position of Code Enforcement Officer through the end of fiscal year 2026, and instead merge the duties of Code Enforcement Officer with the Deputy Village Marshal; decreasing the hours of service by the Village Clerk-Fiscal Officer from 24 hours per calendar week to 16 hours; and removing the Mayor's salary from the budget, after Mayor Eblin agreed to forfeit his compensation by the Village for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Village Clerk-Fiscal Officer Delaynie Potts was asked by Mayor Eblin if the Village could afford to employ a Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services. Potts indicated yes, however, per hour compensation would need to be capped at $14.00 per hour, not to exceed eight hours each calendar week.

The recommended changes will result in eliminating approximately $19,056.92 in expenditures during fiscal year 2026. These changes would be subject to acceptance by the sponsor, and adoption by the Village Council during its next regular meeting.

Mayor Eblin explains budgetary changes are necessary to ensure sufficient cash reserves are available in the Village treasury for unforeseen expenditures, and for long-term capital investment.

The Rutland Village Council will consider adoption of the Committee recommendations during its next regular meeting scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. at Rutland Civic Center.

View the First Committee Report of Ordinance 2026-07: https://shorturl.at/7ZQpR

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