Commissioners continue 2025 budget process

Nov. 15—JEFFERSON — Discussions on proposed 2025 department budgets continued Thursday with a public hearing and several budget hearings before the Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners.

The Ashtabula County Juvenile/Probate Court and Resource Center administrators made their interests known during a public hearing that included a recommendation by Judge Albert Camplese to separate the juvenile and probate courts.

The act would need approval by the state legislature, but could eventually lead to some savings, Camplese said. He said it is very difficult to adjudicate at both courts causing inefficiencies that lead to citizens dealing with long waits for justice or the settling of estates.

Over the short run, he also explained the challenges facing the juvenile court, which has moved to the Key Bank building on Main Avenue in Ashtabula.

"Ten years ago, we began this journey," Camplese said of his work with the commissioners.

As part of the budget appropriation, he asked a staff attorney be retained, after a grant to pay for the position ran out. He said it is important to the efficient running of the court.

Camplese asked the commissioners to increase the amount paid to attorneys handling juvenile cases from $50 or $60 to $75, to increase the pool of attorneys willing to handle cases.

He said the lack of attorneys available to handle the cases ends up creating scheduling problems that become financially inefficient.

"It is simple economics," Camplese said. "We don't have attorneys willing to practice here."

He asked for a part-time and full-time clerk between the two courts, and to increase the pay of magistrates.

"Everything we are asking from you, we give something in return," Camplese said. He said he is not asking for any more court security, but will figure out how to best use present staffing in a two-story building that will be under construction during 2025.

"I am trying to sensitize you to the fact that this is going to be a very difficult year for this court," Camplese said.

The Ashtabula County Board of Elections administration asked for money for a printer, but were still detailing the cost of the item. An employee moving to the third step was the only increase in salaries, according to director Charlie Frye and deputy director John Mead.

Mead indicated the proposed budget is for less money than this year, since it will not be a presidential election, which involves higher costs due to processing of more absentee ballots and other costs.

Western County Court officials provided a fairly flat budget, seeking only a new copier. Western County Court Judge Casey O'Brien said he is seeking funding to provide monitoring devices for people who have been charged but not yet gone to trial.

Northeast Regional Airport Administrator Kate Burke-Rosales and airport board member Dwight Bowden presented the financial requests for the airport, and focused on the need to hire a new airport manager.

Burke-Rosales has been serving as clerk and airport manager. She said doing both jobs is a bit much. She said the airport board actually approves the final budget.

Burke-Rosales and Bowden said hanger rentals have gone from 30% occupancy in 2018 to 85 now, with fuel sales increasing this year as well.