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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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).
Downtown meeting parking conflict
Farmers' Market traffic made parking so bad the meeting started late and ran into 8:33 p.m. The commission wants to move next month's meeting to Wednesday, September 23, and find a permanent fix for 2027.
New storm sewer fee starting 2027
Residential utility bills will include a $6-per-month storm sewer fee beginning with January 2027 bills.
Planning and Zoning Fee Schedule Updates
Planning application fees are going up to keep pace with inflation, with costs comparable to neighboring cities. Developers and builders filing site plans will pay more; a formal ordinance heads to Council.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Personnel code amendments
Three personnel code sections were amended or read, plus a pay-grade placement for the incoming Service Supervisor. Mostly housekeeping, but it shapes how city employees are classified and paid.
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.
Clarifying medical and bereavement leave policies
Two amendments would clean up the city's leave rules: adding state-law definitions for medical leave terms and requiring documentation for bereavement leave when appropriate. Council takes these up June 2.
Employee compensation discussed in executive session
The committee met behind closed doors for about 15 minutes to consider the compensation of public employees. No action was announced afterward.
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.
New Investment Advisor Search
The city's financial advisor left the firm, so the city is shopping for a new investment advisor via a request for qualifications.
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.