Summary
- The Cuyahoga County Office of Budget and Management proposes a $205 million 2026-27 budget for the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, while the sheriff’s fiscal officers recommend $213 million.
- County leadership will meet on Nov. 18 and come up with a list of amendments that have consensus support before final budget hearings. [Editor’s note: Council is scheduled to give the budget a second reading on Nov. 25 and consider adopting it on Dec. 9.]
Follow up questions
- What was the reasoning for budget cuts to the Cuyahoga County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services Board (ADAMHS)?
Cuyahoga County Council Committee of the Whole Meeting/Budget Hearing
Call to order
Roll call
- Patrick Kelly (District 1)
- Dale Miller (District 2), council president
- Martin Sweeney (District 3)
- Mark Casselberry (District 4) – ABSENT
- Michael Gallagher (District 5)
- Robert Schleper (District 6)
- Yvonne M. Conwell, vice president (District 7)
- Pernel Jones Jr. (District 8) – ABSENT, showed up later
- Meredith Turner (District 9)
- Michael Houser (District 10) – ABSENT, showed up later
- Sunny Simon (District 11) – ABSENT, showed up later
Public comment
Council heard public comment from Jennifer Harrison, chief clinical officer at FrontLine Service, who voiced concerns about the 2026/2027 Biennial Operating Budget as recommended by Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne and his administration. The budget proposes a $4 million cut to the ADAMHS Board, including $1 million cut from FrontLine Service and a 20% reduction to the agency’s Safe Havens program.
Harrison spoke to the history, impact and best practices of this program: “The first in Ohio, the Safe Havens program opened in 1994 … what makes [it] successful compared to traditional group homes is the side-by-side model of service delivery … Hospitalization and incarceration rates amongst Safe Haven residents are extremely low, average 1% per year.”
Harrison said that passing the current budget could lead to the dismantling and closure of the Safe Havens program.
[Editor’s note: Cuyahoga County may cut these mental health and addiction services. What that means for the people who rely on them].
R2025-0293:A Resolution Adopting the 2026/2027 Biennial Operating Budget and Capital Improvements Program and declaring the necessity that this Resolution become immediately effective
Council heard arguments regarding an increased allocation of $4.6 million to the sheriff’s department, bringing the total department budget to $205 million in the 2026/2027 Biennial Operating Budget.
Speakers presenting on the matter included:
Donna Kaleal, business services manager, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department
Chris Costin, budget management analyst, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department
Nestor Rivera, chief deputy of corrections, Cuyahoga Sheriff’s Department
Walter Parfejewiec, director of Office of Budget & Management (OBM)
Dale Armbruster, process improvement professional, Office of Innovation & Performance
Kaleal and Costin asserted throughout the meeting that a more realistic minimum budget would be $213 million, in anticipation of high ongoing overtime expenses. Costin also emphasized that this number remains conservative and is partially dependent on efficiency practices being implemented in the jail, with oversight from the Office of Innovation and Performance.
Today’s public disagreement about budget recommendations came after a series of articles published by Cleveland.com, implying a rising tension between the sheriff’s office and OBM. Multiple members of council referenced the articles.
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Kaleal was asked to speak on this tension, saying, “I’ve been through several budget cycles with this administration, and they get a little contentious, but I would have to say this year has been the worst. The very first meeting we had … [featured] minor threats or warnings that were lobbed at us.”
After going back and forth with OBM, Kaleal affirmed that she and Costin still stand by $213 million as a more accurate projection, but they have conceded there is not enough money in the budget to fulfill that request.
Council Member Michael Gallagher expressed misgivings that OBM and the sheriff’s department could not agree on a final budget number. He said there is a years-long trend of the sheriff’s department going over budget and returning to council for more money, which has historically been approved in order to balance the county budget at the end of the year.
Gallagher: “My whole point, council, has been and will continue to be: This is not how you budget. We have not had a balanced budget with previous administrations and this administration. So this is nothing new, but we always do it, and it’s got to stop. … We usually have to find that money somewhere, and it’s usually reserve, and [this approach] just not helpful.”
Gallagher suggested later in the meeting that council should hire an outside firm to come address the sheriff’s budget. This idea was rejected by Council Member Sunny Simon, who said it is council’s responsibility to find a solution.
Council asked Costin and Kaleal to explain the basis for the $8 million discrepancy between their recommendation and OBM’s. Costin mentioned that the sheriff’s car fleet currently includes 11 vehicles with over 150,000 miles on them, and he has budgeted for consideration of upcoming fleet replacement costs. Still, it was very clear based on comments that the biggest concern is overtime (OT) pay.
Kaleal clarified that not only did OBM’s budget include fewer OT hours, it also did not capture the full costs of OPERS (pension for public servants in Ohio), Medicare, and union allowances that increase with overtime, particularly for those who work in the jail.
Dale Armbruster, from the Office of Innovation and Performance, spoke on potential efficiencies to be implemented in the jails, including the use of civilian contractors for laundry, sanitation and food services instead of plugging corrections officers into these roles. The OT demand for corrections officers has been increasing, and expenses for these positions include significant union requirements and benefits.
Nestor Rivera, chief deputy of corrections, affirmed that the department is looking to implement these efficiencies quickly. Council Member Michael Houser asked if Armbruster’s office can look into data from other counties that have faced a similar issue and identify solutions that have been successful.
Council Vice President Yvonne Conwell also asked Kaleal to run budget projections for hiring additional corrections officers, acknowledging that this would reflect its own increased costs but ideally prevent the unknown variables. “What if you had all the staff that you need, and would that really make a difference with overtime?”
Miscellaneous business
Council Member Meredith Turner welcomed Anne Figurado, an exchange student from Sri Lanka and a fellow of Cuyahoga County’s Public Policy Fellowship Program. Figurado has partnered with the YWCA during her time in Ohio and aspires to enter politics, working to end violence against women, children and minorities.
These notes are by Documenter Hannah Morgan.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcleveland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.