Chillicothe — When the city budget is passed in the new year, there will be about $26M in the general fund – an average amount for the city. But, it wasn’t easy to balance that.
City Auditor Krystal Spetnagel said that was a little more difficult this year because of changes in city revenue – mainly, the loss of the paper mill income taxes and other revenue from the massive industry, including its use of city water.
Spetnagel said they had to cut back on some capital items, but grant money helped balance the books.
She said two big capital projects will be completed in 2026: the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Yoctangee Park renovations. Spending on the centralized city facility on East 7th Street, the so-called former “Pepsi Warehouse,” is mostly completed.
Hear Spetnagel in her own words in the below interview video – as well as the brief reports from the Mayor, her, and the deputy Law Director.
Council sessions can also be viewed on the city’s Facebook page (see the 26-minute December 22nd council session video) and on council’s YouTube account.
Council president Kevin Shoemaker pointed out that council rules require that the budget for the year be passed by that year’s council, meaning in January after the newly elected council is empaneled…although the fall election left council exactly the same in 2026-27 as in 2024-25.
The budget will be at third reading then, since council held a special session at 5pm Tuesday, December 16th, for only that ordinance so that it would get a second reading then. (Three other budget items were added during the session.)
Shoemaker also pointed out that council rules require the first session of council must be held at 6pm on the first day the Chillicothe Municipal Court resumes business after new year’s. That means council’s next meeting will be Friday evening, January 2nd.
He also mentioned that Chillicothe (and Ross County) officials will be sworn on December 31st. This is usually in Common Pleas courtroom Number 1 around noon.
