Lorain County officials say $2 million in surplus funds from the county’s real estate assessment fund will be returned to local governments, agencies, and taxing authorities across the county.
According to the Lorain County Auditor’s Office, the funds come from fees collected for property valuation work, including appraisals and reappraisals required under Ohio law. Those funds are restricted and cannot be used for general county operations. Once the costs of valuation work are covered, excess funds must be returned to the entities that contributed to the fund.
The $2 million will be distributed proportionally based on contributions made over the past six years, with schools receiving the largest share of the total.
School districts across Lorain County are set to receive approximately $1.19 million combined. Among the largest allocations are Avon Lake City Schools at $164,294.67, Avon Local Schools at $158,081.80, Elyria City Schools at $156,144.92, and North Ridgeville City Schools at $150,203.92. Lorain City Schools are set to receive $96,647.39, while Amherst Exempted Village Schools will receive $90,005.03.
Cities and villages collectively account for about $230,724.51 of the distribution. North Ridgeville is listed among the larger municipal recipients at $43,142.25, followed by Avon through both direct and TIF-related distributions totaling more than $60,000 combined. Lorain is set to receive $21,479.94, and Elyria is listed at $15,267.56.
County government-related funds total approximately $244,090.40, including allocations such as $81,938.51 to the Lorain County Board of Developmental Disabilities, $44,390.79 to Children Services, and $43,486.85 to mental health services.
Special districts are expected to receive $173,252.28, with Lorain County Community College accounting for $109,207.80 and Metro Parks receiving $41,798.75.
Joint vocational schools will receive $60,714.89, with the Lorain County JVS receiving the majority at $57,068.05.
Townships across the county will receive a combined $46,517.69, with Columbia Township listed among the higher allocations at $8,829.70. Libraries are set to receive $42,382.19, including $12,296.36 for the Lorain Public Library and $11,759.80 for the Elyria Public Library.
The surplus follows operational changes made by the Auditor’s Office beginning in 2018, when the county transitioned away from contracting with outside appraisal firms. Instead, the office developed an in-house appraisal team to handle required property revaluations.
That transition was completed in 2024 with the county’s first fully in-house sexennial revaluation. Officials say the shift reduced long-term appraisal costs, contributing to the surplus now being returned.
Because the funds are legally restricted to valuation-related activities, they cannot be used to offset budget reductions within county government. Instead, any remaining balance after required work is completed must be distributed back to the entities that paid into the fund.
It is not known at this time exactly when the funds will be distributed.