The Spreadsheet and the Story: County Budgeting

County carryover and reserve balances are topics of increasing conversation around the Statehouse. This session explored how and why counties carry budgetary reserves and how to message the importance of these reserves to lawmakers.

Presentation

Speakers:

Alan Harold, CCAO Board Member and Stark County Commissioner

Phil Montgomery, Director of Finance and Budget, Stark County

Nick Ciolli, CCAO Research Analyst

When Disaster Strikes

Each  year, communities across Ohio are impacted by natural, human-caused, or technological disasters. While local leaders hope their jurisdictions are never impacted, pre-disaster preparedness is key for uniform and collaborative response and recovery to catastrophe. This session featured emergency management leaders conducting an interactive tabletop exercise for policy makers to strengthen their understanding of key emergency management principles and foster more preparedness and engagement at the local level.

Presentation

Speakers:

Ryan Shackelford, Director, Portage County EMA

Nick Crossley, Director, Hamilton County EMA

Alex McCarthy, Director, Delaware County EMA

Jason Troyer, Director, Holmes County EMA

Critics, Comments, and Cameras: Surviving the Modern First Amendment Battlefield

Counties and CCAO members are dealing with more threats from online platforms and/or anonymous social media accounts. These accounts publish intentionally false and misleading information and sometimes make threats in attempts to influence elected officials or official actions. It is impacting the manner in which counties conduct business. This presentation focused on best practices for handling such situations and education on first amendment speech rights.

Presentation
(Members Only)

Speaker:

Mark R. Weaver, Attorney and Crisis Communications Expert, Communications Counsel Inc.

Hamilton County's Response to the Addiction Crisis

The panel provided an overview of Hamilton County's coordinated, collaborative approach to addressing substance use and overdose prevention.

Presentation

Speakers:

Tom Synan, Chief of Police of Village of Newtown, and Co-Chair of the Interdiction Pillar

Mike Davenport, Commander, Hamilton County Heroin Coalition Task Force

Meagan Guthrie, Director, Hamilton County Office of Addiction Response

Sarah Coyne, Care & Training Liaison, Hamilton County Office of Addiction Response

Policy Briefing

Ohio will soon welcome a new governor and a new administration, creating both opportunities and important policy considerations for county government. The CCAO Policy Team held a forward-looking discussion on the issues most likely to shape the next General Assembly, regardless of who wins in November, and explore strategies for effectively communicating county priorities to new state leaders and policymakers.

Presentation

Speakers:

CCAO Policy Team

Understanding Data Center Development

This panel discussed the political and practical issues involved with the development of data centers in Ohio and what should be considered when making local decisions.

Handout, Commissioner McCarthy

Data Center Handout, Farm Bureau
(Members Only)

Power Siting Board Handout, Farm Bureau
(Members Only)

Speakers:

Tom McCarthy, Union County Commissioner

Dale Arnold, Director of Energy, Utility, and Local Government, Ohio Farm Bureau

Stephen Haughey, Partner, FBT Gibbons

Planning for Artificial Intelligence

The presentation combined real-world examples, interactive policy scenarios, and practical guidance for immediate application. Participants left with actionable tools to guide AI decision-making in their own agencies or jurisdictions and the ability to identify the core risks and benefits of AI in the public sector and be better prepared to evaluate where AI can deliver the greatest public value versus traditional methods.

Presentation

Speaker:

Catherine Burgett, Partner, FBT Gibbons