Chillicothe Council started the new year Wednesday with a special meeting where they passed the budget and set some personnel. The city will operate on about $65,000,000 for 2024.
A council rule passed in 1999 states “the first meeting of the new Council after each election shall be held at 6:00 p.m. on the first day the Chillicothe Municipal Court is open for business following the January first holiday. At this first meeting, Council shall elect a president pro tempore, a clerk, and other employees as may be necessary, and conduct any Council matters.”
At-large councilwoman Allison Henderson was elected president pro tempore (meaning vice president), under new president Kevin Shoemaker. Kennedy Moss was re-appointed as council clerk.
Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney – formerly the city auditor – explained the budget for 2024 to me after it was passed Wednesday, which totals a little over $65 million.
In my video interview of him, the mayor ran through the budget twice because I didn’t realize the city budget was set up differently than the two-part county budget, which County Auditor Jeff Lehner explained to me totaled about $107 million.
The 2024 City of Chillicothe budget, as explained by Mayor Feeney:
- General Fund – almost $31M
- Special Funds, from income tax – $19M
- Capital Fund – $4.2M
- Enterprise Funds – little over $12M
He says the grand total is a little more than $65M. The city has about 250 employees, among them police, fire, water, sewer, and administration.
Chillicothe Council meets in regular session 7pm Monday, January 8th.
Also read my two stories on Jason Salley, who gave a public commentary to Chillicothe Council on shootings in the city – including his own daughter’s wounding.
Find more in the article on the Scioto Post, including a video interview.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.
Chillicothe Council started the new year January 3rd, 2024, with five new members in a special meeting where they passed the budget and set some personnel.