Athens · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Athens public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
2027 City Budget
The 2027 budget is about $16 million below last year's, with three grant-funded firefighter positions sunset per plan. Council Member Swank pressed for answers on where the voter-approved $2.1 million income tax increase is going; the mayor and auditor pointed to the medical fund (roughly $1 million more), streets, transit and capital, plus building a carryover reserve.
Rumpke trash and recycling contract extension
The ordinance would extend Rumpke's contract two years with no rate increase for residents. Recycling advocates want the Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District — which took over the former recycling center — to get a chance to propose a competing government-to-government deal, but the auditor warned Rumpke won't hold its rate forever.
AFSCME Spousal Health Insurance Carve-Out (Ordinance 99-26)
A draft MOU with AFSCME would require new employees after January 2027 whose spouses have other coverage to use it instead of city insurance, easing pressure on the strained medical fund. Council also moved $300,000 between funds to fix how retirement buyouts were charged.
Tax Year 2026 property tax rates
The city formally accepts the county's estimate of about $1.2 million in property tax revenue for 2026. It's routine — nothing new is being taxed, just confirming existing voter-approved rates.
Medical fund shortfall and interfund transfers
City insurance costs keep climbing — last year the general fund had to bail out the medical fund by $750,000. This year the auditor found about $1 million in unneeded appropriations elsewhere to shift over, plus $250,000 for department wages, rather than new money.