Today, to conclude National County Government Month, the Franklin County Commissioners have released a State of the County report, a first for Franklin County, Ohio. The 12-page, user-friendly electronic document is meant to serve as a helpful guide to residents and visitors who wish to better understand the value county government has in improving the quality of life and business.
“Serving as a Franklin County Commissioner provides me with the opportunity to spend a lot of time in our community,” said Commission President Marilyn Brown. “I love responding to the question, ‘What does a County Commissioner do?’ when I’m attending community events or meeting with residents and local business-owners helping to shape our future. The fact-of-the-matter is that County government does so much to improve the quality of life for area families, residents and businesses and I want our community to know about the services available to get them back on their feet if they are facing personal hardships, get work experience through internship opportunities and on-the-job training and how to get a business start-up off the ground. This report is another tool to help us share that information.”
“County government in central Ohio stands for excellence. It is a blessing to serve as Commissioner for 1.2 million people, in the strongest fiscal county in Ohio,” said Commissioner Paula Brooks. “We are the ‘gold standard,’ with a double AAA bond rating, and we work side by side with public servant co-workers who assure families have opportunities to thrive. As the fastest growing urban county, Franklin County must continually surmount challenges that growth brings. Working with the private sector to build good living wage jobs, and working with our robust non-profit and other local government partners, county government plays a strategic role in everyone’s quality of life.”
“As our community continues to grow, welcoming new residents and visitors from all over the globe, it’s important for our County, the second largest county in the state and the fastest growing, to have an easy-to-understand guide to community priorities and county government,” said Commissioner John O’Grady. “Beyond our weekly board meetings and annual budget hearings, this annual report provides another opportunity to share with constituents how their tax dollars are being put to good use and how we all benefit from strategic investments in organizations like Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission which help to draw thousands of visitors to our county each year, supporting 71,000 jobs and generating $8.7 billion in spending that translates into $2,300 in annual tax savings for every Franklin County family.”
The report can be downloaded from the Commissioners’ website at
commissioners.franklincountyohio.gov