Lorain County voters will be asked in November to consider a 0.25 percent sales tax increase that would provide permanent funding for the operations of the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office. The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on June 6 to begin the formal process required to place the measure on the Nov. 5, 2025 ballot.
The proposed increase would generate an estimated $13 million annually. According to Chief Deputy Tanya Czack, who presented budget information during the meeting, the Sheriff’s Office expects its 2026 budget to reach $32.5 million, with rising costs driven by contractual obligations. Currently, $13.6 million of the office’s funding comes from a separate 0.25 percent sales tax passed in the 1970s and restricted to jail operations. The remainder—over $16 million—is drawn from the county’s general fund.
Czack stated the Sheriff’s Office has reviewed its budget line by line, addressing any wasteful or legacy spending. She told commissioners the new sales tax would help stabilize long-term funding and allow the office to serve residents efficiently. Czack said, “We’re not just maintaining. We are modernizing, prioritizing, and making every dollar count.”
Two public hearings are scheduled for the proposal: one on June 17 at 4:30 p.m. and another on June 20 at 10:30 a.m. The hearings are required before the issue can appear on the ballot.
Commissioner David Moore said the measure was prompted by projections showing the county would enter deficit spending in 2026. He explained that the board has been working with revenue forecasts and intends to share detailed information with the public before the election. “We will show the projections, we will show the need,” Moore said.
The commissioners discussed how past decisions influenced the county’s financial position. Moore referenced the 2020 repeal of a previous 0.25 percent sales tax and the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to replace lost revenue, which he said helped the county avoid financial shortfalls in recent years. Moore described the county as being in a “deficit mode for 2026” and said a preliminary tax budget must be submitted to the state by the end of July.
Commissioner Jeff Riddell provided background on jail funding, noting that voters approved the original jail sales tax in the 1970s when the facility was first built. He said the size of the jail was doubled in the 1990s, but the funding was never increased. As a result, the Sheriff’s Office began relying more heavily on the general fund, leading to competition for resources with other county departments.
“The quarter percent sales tax is approximately $13 million,” Riddell said. “Over the four years that we were involved with the ARPA, we were taking about $12 to $13 million a year out of the ARPA money and using it to replace the money that was no longer there for the quarter percent.”
Riddell said the intent of the current proposal is to create a dedicated source of funding for the Sheriff’s Office that does not compete with other general fund priorities.
Commissioner Marty Gallagher added that Lorain County has one of the lowest sales tax rates in the state. With the proposed increase, it would still remain below neighboring counties such as Erie, Medina, and Huron.
“This is basically to help out the Sheriff’s Office as a whole,” Gallagher said. “We already have a sales tax that’s for the jail only. That money has to be spent on jail only. This is more for the Sheriff’s Office so that they can operate.”
Commissioners and sheriff’s officials emphasized that public engagement will continue through the summer. Information will be presented at the upcoming hearings, and additional outreach is planned ahead of the general election.
Recent increases in violent crime across the county have added further strain on local and countywide law enforcement agencies. In Lorain, a double homicide on Tower Boulevard earlier this year was one of several fatal shooting incidents under investigation. In Elyria, law enforcement responded to multiple major disturbances including a shooting during a large public fight and ongoing incidents involving repeat violent offenders. The Sheriff’s Office has also been called upon to assist with specialized operations and inmate transport in cases that exceed local capacity.
These incidents follow a trend of increased resource demands, particularly in support roles that involve jail intake, investigations, and emergency coordination across jurisdictions. While commissioners did not cite specific crimes during the June 6 meeting, the current tax proposal is positioned within a broader discussion about maintaining public safety infrastructure as demands rise.
Sheriff Jack Hall and Czack both addressed the board at the meeting. Hall introduced Czack as the lead on budget development, and commissioners thanked both for their cooperation during the funding discussions.
The board also acknowledged that plans for a new jail facility are still being discussed but will not be ready in time for the November ballot. Moore said, “We are still going back and forth with the architects. We have run out of time.”
The proposed sales tax, if passed by voters, would be permanent. Commissioners said the public hearings will provide full financial details to help voters make an informed decision.