Perrysburg · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Perrysburg public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
2027 City Budget Appropriations
The committee reviewed the 2027 budget, which shows a modest 3.69% increase overall. The Assistant Law Director position is the only major new spending item.
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.
2027 Planning and Zoning Budget
The 2027 budget is up about 6 percent, mostly for new planning and zoning software, with new permit fees expected to cover a good chunk of the cost.
2027 Public Service budget: staffing and smart-fleet technology
Public Service wants a new laborer, two parks positions, AI-equipped truck cameras that spot potholes and track leaf pickup in real time, new mowers, and a dock replacement — plus higher refuse costs from the wage study and truck repairs.
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.
2027 Police Department Budget
The police department's proposed 2027 budget is about $8.8 million, up just 2.3%, with no new positions. Capital items include three marked cruisers, Taser 10 replacements, dispatch workstations and portable radios.
Attack campaign response by Council President Rettig
Council President Rick Rettig responded on the record to a 'Rip Off Rick' campaign claiming he oversaw a 79.6% budget increase, arguing the growth funded a second fire station, nine firefighters, wastewater and downtown investments.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Short-term rental regulation and hotel tax
Airbnb-style hosts in Perrysburg now owe the same 6% hotel tax as hotels and must follow new citywide short-term rental rules. A rental manager raised concerns about Airbnb's 15% host fee, but council members who spoke said the tax is collected from guests, not hosts.