By: Renea Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
renea@thevillagereporter.com
The Fulton County Commissioners held their regular session on Thursday, December 18, 2025. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by an opening prayer and roll call.
Commissioners first addressed routine business, including a resolution to approve the minutes from the December 16, 2025, regular session, followed by a resolution to approve the agenda as presented or as amended.
Under old business, commissioners were scheduled to review Dog Warden reports for the periods ending November 22 and November 29. Also listed for review were an amended certificate of estimated resources and a certificate of compliance.
New business items included a review of an office closure notice for the Fulton County Engineer’s Office, along with several resolutions for action.
Those included approval of appropriations requests for various departments, entering into contracts for the 2026 Ditch Maintenance Program, rescinding a prior resolution, requesting the county auditor to provide required tax levy information for an EMS levy, approving the 2026 appropriations budget, and approving purchase orders and travel requests.
The Board of Fulton County Commissioners determined that revenue available within the ten-mill limitation would be insufficient to meet county needs for emergency medical services.
As a result, the board found it necessary to pursue a tax levy in excess of the ten-mill limitation for funding EMS services.
The EMS Levy resolution proposes a renewal levy at a rate not exceeding 4.0 mills per dollar of valuation. This levy would last for five years and would renew the existing 4.0-mill EMS levy, rather than creating a new or higher tax.
If voters approve it, the levy will take effect starting with tax year 2026 and will be first collected in calendar year 2027. The levy will be voted on in the primary election on May 5, 2026, requiring a majority approval from county voters.
Under the resolution, the commissioners asked the Fulton County Auditor to determine and certify the county’s current total tax valuation and calculate the revenue generated by a 4.0-mill renewal levy.
This information will help the board decide whether to put the levy on the ballot. The levy is authorized under multiple sections of the Ohio Revised Code, including Sections 5705.19, 5705.191, 5705.192, 5705.21, and 5705.26.
With nothing further, the meeting was adjourned. The county offices will be closed on December 25 and December 26 for Christmas. Offices will also close at 12:00 noon on December 31, 2025, and will be closed on January 1, 2026, for New Year’s.