Auglaize County Administrator Erica Preston Discusses County Budget, Services, Projects, And Future Planning On Spectrum

Auglaize County Administrator Erica Preston joined WCSM’s Spectrum program to discuss county operations, budgeting, ongoing projects, and the services supported by county government.

Preston has served as county administrator for nearly 12 years. She said the role changes daily, but much of her work focuses on administrative functions for the county, contract review, risk mitigation, and working alongside the Auglaize County Commissioners.

Preston said the county administrator position is established under Ohio law and allows the commissioners to assign duties related to county operations. While the commissioners remain the decision makers, Preston said her role includes helping oversee day to day administrative work, including the county budget.

Auglaize County Commissioners are John Bergman, who is serving as president of the board this year, Doug Spencer, who is vice president, and Dave Bambauer, who is a member of the board.

Preston said budgeting is an all year process, with major budget work beginning in October before the county passes its budget at the first meeting of the new calendar year. She said this year’s process was unique because the county was also waiting on voters to decide the sales tax continuation.

After that measure passed, Preston said the county was able to move forward with major budget priorities. She noted that personnel costs remain a large part of county spending because many county services rely heavily on staff. She said the Sheriff’s Office accounts for about 33 percent of the county budget.

Preston also discussed the importance of the Auglaize County Engineer’s Office, which oversees roads, bridges, and other infrastructure needs.

One major project currently underway is the demolition of the former Auglaize Acres nursing home. Preston said the county received state grant funding, along with local match money, to help move the project forward. She said while the building has a long history, demolition is part of preparing the site for future redevelopment and a possible new facility.

Preston said anyone interested in keeping a piece of the old Auglaize Acres building can pick up bricks from a pile outside the site.

She also highlighted the county’s use of Brownfield grant funding. Preston said Auglaize County currently has three Brownfield grants in process, totaling more than $7 million. She said those grants help with projects involving environmental cleanup, asbestos removal, soil remediation, and other costs that would be difficult for local government to cover alone.

Preston said sales tax remains a major source of revenue for the county’s General Revenue Fund. She said about 56 percent of the county’s General Revenue Fund income comes from sales tax.

She said that revenue helps support services many residents rely on, including 911 dispatching, law enforcement, the jail, and grant programs for things like housing assistance.

Preston also discussed challenges facing county government, including rising costs, health insurance, property insurance, infrastructure maintenance, and staffing. She said the job market has changed since COVID, with fewer applicants for some positions and more urgency when the county finds a strong candidate.

She said the county is also seeing longtime employees retire, creating the need to fill important roles with the next generation of workers.

Infrastructure maintenance remains another ongoing cost. Preston said the county is handling projects such as courthouse step replacement and building maintenance. She also noted that the Auglaize County Courthouse sustained damage during a recent windstorm when sections of the copper roof blew off.

Looking ahead, Preston said she remains optimistic about Auglaize County’s future. She pointed to the county motto, “great past, greater future,” and said past leadership has helped position the county well for future needs.

Preston also discussed technology and cybersecurity as growing priorities. She said the county is continuing to prepare for major technology upgrades, including the transition to Next Generation 911 at the Sheriff’s Office.

That upgrade is expected to improve emergency response capabilities, including future options such as texting emergency information to 911.

Preston said decisions made now are meant to help the county serve residents not only today, but for years to come.