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STEUBENVILLE -- Finance Director Dave Lewis warned council Tuesday that the 2027 budget process will be challenging.
With the first of council's budget workshops set for Sept. 29 at 6 p.m., Lewis said health care claims are significantly lower this year while other line items -- like overtime pay and ambulance services -- are much higher.
"(But) at the end of the budget process the city has to find a way to live within its means," he said. "We have always been able to make it happen."
He said city income tax revenue, the general fund's largest revenue source, was slightly lower in July compared to July of last year.
"Overall, income tax collections have been down for most of 2026 and are approximately $319,000 lower year-to-date than last year. The city has also issued approximately $390,000 more compared to last year in income tax refunds, primarily to a few larger businesses for net profit refunds," he said, adding that some businesses overestimate the net profit tax owed.
Health care claims have been running at about 66% of the budgeted amount year-to-date, "which is lower than last year," Lewis added.
"If this trend continues, the lower claims should help as the city prepares the 2027 budget," he said. "The city is self-funded for medical insurance and experienced a high cost year in 2025, which resulted in a significant increase in the 2026 renewal."
Council, meanwhile, heard first reading of an ordinance conveying the "Moose buildings" on S. Fourth Street to the Jefferson County Port Authority to facilitate a potential sale.
"There is a buyer for the lot and we needed to use the Port Authority for him to buy it," Johnson said.
Conveying the property to the port authority will "enhance, foster and promote economic development within the city," the legislation noted.
Johnson also told council the administration is drafting a policy for paying indigent burials. Up to now, he said, funeral home operators have submitted bills without any documentation of indigency being required.
This year, however, he said indigent burial costs "have already exceeded" the amount set aside in the 2026 budget to cover cremation. While Ohio has a reimbursement program, he said it requires documentation that the decedent actually was "at 150 percent of the poverty level."
"I asked two funeral homes but they couldn't provide me with the information," Johnson said, adding Law Director Costa Mastros must review the proposed policy before he brings it to council.
Johnson said he plans to meet with funeral home directors Sept. 14 to "give them a say on what our policy should be."
"We want to take advantage of the state's reimbursement program, but to do that we have to follow (their) rules," he added.
Also Tuesday:
-- Council heard the second reading of an ordinance authorizing continued use of the city's automated license plate reading cameras, then tabled the third and final reading until Sept. 15. The sponsor of the legislation, Councilman-at-large Joel Walker, requested the delay to make time for a 45-minute safety committee meeting during which members of the public could have their say.
-- Councilwoman Heather Hoover called for a utility committee meeting Sept. 15 beginning at 6:45 p.m. to discuss slated water rate increases.
-- Legislation authorizing City Manager Mike Johnson to seek bids for the sanitary sewer drying bed and enclosure and another for the purchase of necessary supplies for use by the Service Department were approved by council after their third readings.
-- Johnson advised that the city's response to public records requests has been slower than usual because Law Director Costa Mastros has been unavailable. He said Mastros is expected in his office Thursday, at which time the requests, as well as the documentation gathered by the appropriate department head, will be given to him for review.
-- Council reappointed Thomas Fahey and Herb Crossland to the recreation board.
-- Councilman Royal Mayo requested a resolution recognizing Chuck Murphy, retired wastewater superintendent, for his many years of service to the city.