News

The Franklin County Commissioners this week bolstered their continued support for Future Ready Columbus with a new $400,000 grant for its Future Ready by 5 initiative.  The funding will help implement the program community-wide, including with a public awareness campaign, and aligns with the commissioners’ county-wide fatherhood initiatives.
 

The Franklin County commissioners voted this morning to approve contracts worth $2.5 million with Impact Community Action and the Community Shelter Board to provide immediate rental and utility assistance for Franklin County families that are struggling in the pandemic economy.  The funding is part of $13 million approved for Franklin County by Congress at the end of 2020, and should support nearly 800 individuals or families who have been hurt by the pandemic and are having trouble paying their rent or utility bills.
 

The Franklin County Commissioners approve one of the most comprehensive paid family leave acts in the state for its employees. The expanded Paid Family and Medical Leave policy went into effect at the beginning of year and allows county workers to take up to eight weeks paid leave for events like birth of a child, adoption, care for seriously ill family members, or quarantine or treatment due to COVID-19. It is an extension of the commissioners’ historic, temporary Paid Family and Medical Leave put in place early in the pandemic.

The Franklin County Commissioners today announced the availability of the Residents’ Guide to the 2021 County Budget.  This annual publication accompanies each year’s official budget to make the document more accessible to lay persons who may be interested in the county’s finances.  It covers the annual budgeting process and the general structure of county government, explains the differences between the county General Fund and All Funds Budget, and highlights some of the commissioners’ accomplishments from the past year and priorities for the year to come.
 

The attack yesterday on the U.S. Capitol Building is an attack on our democracy and on the constitution itself.  It was incited by the president and perpetrated by people who are trying to take control of our nation’s government by force.  It is an attempted coup.
 

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners this morning unanimously elected Commissioner Kevin L. Boyce to lead the board for 2021 as board president.  Commissioner Boyce was first elected to the board in 2016, and reelected in 2020.  He has previously served as a state representative, Ohio treasurer, and as a Columbus city councilmember.
 

At its last General Session meeting of 2020, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners passed what County Administrator Kenneth N. Wilson described as “responsible, sustainable, and forward-focused” budget, while also acknowledging that the challenges of 2020 are likely to continue for some time.
 

Seven Ohio counties today jointly urged Ohioans to “stay at home” to protect themselves and their family members, reminding residents to follow public health guidance related to social gatherings, wearing masks, and avoiding unnecessary travel.  Within the last week, each of the participating counties – Franklin, Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Summit, Montgomery, Lucas and Mahoning – have issued a Stay at Home Health Advisory, in partnership with their county administrations, boards of health, and their largest cities.

The Franklin County Commissioners this morning voted to add a new entry to their list of fundamental principles.  The pursuit of racial equity now joins community safety and security, job creation and economic development, health and human services, environmental sustainability, and fiscally responsible government among the set of guiding principles the commissioners use to set county policy.
 

Franklin County Administrator, Kenneth N. Wilson, this afternoon presented the administration’s proposed 2021 budget to the board of three county commissioners to kick off this year’s annual budget hearings.  Wilson is the county’s highest unelected official, and oversees the budget process.  The commissioners will preside over two days of budget hearings before voting to approve an amended budget at their final meeting of the year in December.  As the administrative branch of county government, the commissioners set the budgets for all county agencies and departments, even those overseen by other elected officials.