HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Residents working from home during the pandemic has led to a projection that less income tax revenue will be collected in 2022 than in 2021.
City Council, on Tuesday (March 22) approved a budget that projects total revenues of $13.3 million this year, down $1.2 million from the $14.5 in revenues collected a year ago.
“Just like some of our surrounding cities, the work from home is hurting our income tax collection,” said Finance Director Joe Filippo. “We won’t know the full impact for a while, and we’re also waiting to see how the (tax) refunds might affect us.”
Mayfield Village is another local community experiencing difficulties in projecting revenues as the village, during pre-pandemic times, was the workplace of many Progressive Insurance workers who are continuing to work at home. Highland Heights also is home to several Progressive workers. Filippo echoes the comment made by Mayfield Village Finance Director Ronald Wynne in a recent cleveland.com story. The only difference is that Filippo replaced “Mayfield Village” with “Highland Heights.”
“Like the Mayfield Village Finance Director said,” said Filippo, quoting Wynne, “‘There is also the uncertainty of the amount of 2021 tax refunds that will be issued due to individuals who worked from home instead of working in Highland Hts. This amount is not determinable.’
“We will be monitoring revenue and expenses very closely and may have to make adjustments during the year.”
As for expenses, Filippo projects that they will total just over $15 million, an increase of about $1 million from the nearly $14 million actually spent in 2021. This year’s projection of expenses is up by only $316,000 from the 2021 projection.
“We typically spend conservatively,” said Mayor Chuck Brunello. “We usually don’t spend as much as we budget. I give credit to our directors. Even before I was mayor, they’ve typically spent less than they budget.”
Even with the first-time deficit spending this year, Brunello said the city has a reserve of $6.5 million.
The difference in projected Highland Heights expenditures and revenues for 2022 would require about $1.7 million in deficit spending, if all the expended money is, indeed, spent.
Speaking about this year’s capital expenditures this year, Filippo said, “We are going to spend $2.1 million on capital in 2022. This comes from the bond that we took out in 2021.”
The city is purchasing with capital funds one police cruiser and other equipment for the police department. About $200,000 is being spent at Highland Heights Community Park on upgrades at ballfields, on miscellaneous equipment, and on a front end loader for the service department. Another $1.4 million is being spent on improving roads.
Highland Heights, over the course of 2021 and 2022, is expecting to receive $877,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money. About $120,000 of that ARPA money has been spent on the total renovation of City Council chambers and to adapt city hall in response to COVID. That adaptation included adding things such as touchless water faucet levers in sinks and automatic door openers. Filippo said council has not yet determined how it will use the remainder of the ARPA money.
Communities have until the end of 2026 to use ARPA funds.
A busy Easter Bunny
The Children’s Easter Bunny Egg Trail event will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. April 2 at Highland Heights Community Park. Fun activities and a visit from the Easter Bunny are planned.
Pre-registration, at highlandhts.com, is required for all children and adults by 4 p.m. March 31. The event is recommended for children ages 2-9. The free event will be held rain or shine.
And, as was the case in 2021, the Highland Heights police and fire departments, along with Brunello, will accompany the Easter Bunny in driving down each of the city’s streets. The event will take place on April 9.
The drive about town is scheduled to begin just after 9 a.m. in the West Aberdeen development, and conclude some time around 3:20 p.m. on Highland Road, heading east to Miner Road. To get a look at the street order and approximate times the Bunny will be driving by, visit here.
Tacos
Brunello said that the former Don Nachos restaurant building at 5996 Highland Road, at Bishop Road, will soon have a new tenant. Expected to open there in the next month or two is Tijuana Tacos. The building has been vacant for nearly a year.
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