Perrysburg · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Perrysburg public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Assistant Law Director Position
The 2027 law budget proposes a new assistant law director who would also serve as clerk of council — succession planning and a second attorney for the city. Kuhlman wants outside counsel spending history first and suggested exploring a hybrid prosecutor role.
Senior Utility Discount Program
A proposed discount for residents over 65 or disabled residents with limited incomes was tabled while the committee gathers more details, including whether renters and non-resident rate payers should qualify.
Income tax collections trend
September was soft but year-to-date collections are up 0.8%. Net profit taxes are down ~29%, offset by individual and withholding gains, and refunds are running $500,000 lower than last year.
Deputy tax commissioner and enforcement
The tax division wants a deputy tax commissioner (about six months of the year) to handle enforcement — landlords, contractors, delinquencies — plus reminder postcards to boost filings. Tax accounts grew 13% in one year.
2026 Budget Adjustments
Council approved about $75,000 in 2026 budget adjustments — mostly extra money for street and refuse vehicle repairs — and certified the county-determined tax levy amounts, which show only a nominal increase for 2027.
2027 Budget Requests
Tax, IT and Law departments want new positions and tech: a Deputy Tax Commissioner, an IT administrator, an Assistant Law Director/Clerk hybrid, and 12 network switch replacements.
IT staffing and cybersecurity spending
The IT budget adds an administrator and replaces 12 end-of-life network switches, with a big jump in Microsoft licensing tied to cybersecurity needs.
2027 Engineering budget and ADA transition plan
The 2027 Engineering budget, up 6.8 percent, funds a new employee, a required ADA transition plan covering all city facilities, a study of traffic congestion at Woodlands-area schools on Indian Avenue, and Sandusky Street intersection studies.
2027 Recreation Budget
The recreation department had a record 2026 with 4,500+ registrants in 96 programs, and 2027 keeps the same programming. Labor moves into the services line and supplies are cut to match what's actually spent — about a 16% overall decrease.
Proposed Assistant Law Director position
The Law Director wants to convert a vacant clerk/paralegal job into an Assistant Law Director. One committee member worries the city is getting top-heavy; a staffing survey of peer cities is coming back before any decision.
Shade tree work and $70,000 special assessments
Six trees at Fountain Point died and were cut down, but the stumps remain. A resident asked whether the city will replace them; the answer depends on whether the trees died from property owner neglect.
Investment advisory services contract
The city will formalize investment management agreements with two firms selected through an RFP — Raymond James/Skacinski (~$10M at ~7 basis points, ~$7,600/yr) and Touchstone Wealth (~$50M at 5 basis points, ~$25,000/yr).
Fire Station 39 HVAC Control System Replacement
The Fire Division got two quotes to replace the aging HVAC controls at Fire Station 39. The work is already budgeted for 2026, so no new council action is needed.
Municipal Employees MOU
After a closed-door session, Council quickly approved a memorandum of understanding with the city's municipal employees association as an emergency measure.
Annual Insurance Renewal
The city's property and liability insurance renewal rose about $20,000 this year to $291,516, partly because coverage now includes two new medic units on the way.
Visit Perrysburg oversight
Committee leaders want Visit Perrysburg — which receives significant taxpayer money — to report regularly and may try to compel attendance, with talk of adding two Council members to its committee. More accountability, or more friction, could follow.
Parental leave policy extended to stillbirth and miscarriage
Two personnel code amendments, introduced by Councilman Fuller, would extend the parental leave policy to cover bereavement leave after stillbirth or miscarriage — closing a gap in the original policy.
Street Tree Assessment
The annual street tree special assessment is back — $70,000 total, unchanged from prior years, split among every parcel in the city. Council will decide whether to proceed and levy it.
Cemetery Tax Levy Continuation (.32 Mills)
The joint body was scheduled to discuss continuing the .32-mill property tax levy that funds cemetery operations. It's a small, dedicated property tax — and it was on the table at this meeting.
2026 Cemetery Budget
The cemetery's operating budget for 2026 was up for joint discussion between the city and township. This determines how much is available for grounds maintenance and operations.
Health insurance fund strength
The city's health insurance fund ended 2025 with $2.24 million, which let the city absorb most of the 2026 premium hike without passing it all on.