At its Dec. 2 meeting the Middletown City Council approved the city’s 2026 budget, pay‑and‑benefit ordinances for nonunion and health employees, multiple year‑end appropriations, and several contract extensions. A separate proposal to apply for a state airport hangar grant split the council and did not pass.

At a Dec. 2 town hall, residents urged Middletown City Council to require firm developer commitments, give the historic commission review of final plans, and tighten vacant‑property enforcement before demolishing the Manchester building; CMC Properties’ Jim Cohen said the submission was an initial draft and pledged to revise plans with public input.

The Clermont County Board of Commissioners tabled a decision on a proposed expedited type 2 annexation of 29.884 acres adjoining the Clermont County Airport, after multiple airport representatives and residents raised FAA runway protection zone safety and federal grant concerns. The board will take final action at its Dec. 10 meeting when all members are present.

At its Dec. 1 Committee of the Whole, Baberton committees advanced several finance items — a proposed five-year contract with Blue Technologies, a pay-grade change for the HR director, payments tied to grant administration and the water system license, plus two appointments — all called for emergency one-reading legislation to be considered by full council next week.

Hamilton County Job & Family Services told commissioners that federal and state policy shifts (SNAP administrative cost changes and error‑rate cost sharing) and rapidly rising costs for child care and residential care could materially increase county expenses in 2026 and beyond.

The county public defender asked the board to fund three full‑time felony attorneys, additional office space and salary adjustments, saying the hires would produce net savings versus outside assigned counsel and improve outcomes through a holistic‑defense model.

Hamilton County commissioners voted 2–1 to authorize a reduced property‑tax rebate for 2026 after weeks of public comment and administrative warnings that a full 30% rebate would deplete the riverfront sales‑tax reserve. The board also heard opposition to a proposed $1 transfer tax increase.

Public commenters urged trustees and commissioners to slow or oppose proposed data-center/mega-site development, citing environmental and transparency concerns; the Lorain County Port Authority announced the buyer for Midway Mall has terminated its purchase agreement, freeing the authority to seek other options.

The Board of Commissioners voted to adopt an economic development plan that paves the way for a tax-increment financing (TIF) district in Eaton Township to pay for turn lanes, curb cuts, ditch work and sewer planning; staff said the schools have passed a supporting resolution and the project could serve roughly 712 new homes.

At its Dec. 1 meeting the Sylvania City Council passed several emergency measures and approvals including ordinances 106, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137; authorized solicitations for Main Street/Convent roundabout and Convent/Little resurfacing; and confirmed appointments to city boards.

Sylvania City Council approved the ODOT local public agency agreement and accepted a $383,531 design proposal from DGL Consulting Architects/Engineers for the Brent‑Maine‑Holland‑Sylvania roundabout; engineering costs will be covered by ODOT safety funds and the city plans to pursue OPWC for construction support.

By suspended rules and roll-call votes, council approved Ordinance 20 25-13 to ratify a three-year contract with Capital City Lodge No. 9 of the Fraternal Order of Police, covering Jan. 1, 2026'Dec. 31, 2028.

After executive session the board approved retaining outside counsel to advise when the county prosecutor's office has a conflict, citing a potential dispute with the sheriff over dispatch services; the law firm will bill to the county 911 account.

After voters defeated a proposed quarter‑percent income tax, commissioners said they will begin budget discussions to close an estimated shortfall and approved a $113,740 preconstruction contract with Granger Construction to ready a proposed correctional facility for potential outside funding.

Council approved three third-reading ordinances setting the city's 2026 operating and capital appropriations and updated nonunion employee terms, voting unanimously after finance committee recommendation.

Council opened and promptly closed a public hearing on the proposed FY2026 budget (Ordinance 49-2025) with no public commenters. Council and staff then held a finance committee discussion highlighting a $114,000,000 all-funds proposal, multiyear CIP carryovers, and a one-time $5,000,000 disbursement that affects year-over-year comparisons.

At the Nov. 7 meeting the Lorain County Board approved an exclusive buyer‑representation agreement with Cresco Limited for 80–100 acres west of Balm Hart Road while multiple township residents and trustees urged greater transparency about a linked sewer expansion and potential data‑center development.

Commissioner Moore told residents the county’s West-side sewer work is a preparatory step to expand regional infrastructure and said a state-forgivable loan is contingent on advancing the project; public speakers questioned transparency, water use and the need for feasibility studies.

On Dec. 1, Troy City Council approved multiple resolutions and ordinances: a three-year fuel purchase resolution, a contract authorization for water meters, an MOU on police holiday hours, a six-month interest-only amendment to a CDBG loan, recreation and Main Street funding, and ordinances on seasonal wages, a cell-tower lease extension and several appropriations. The 2026 appropriation ordinance was left at first reading.

City staff updated council on a two-year contract with Dayton to support source-water protection of the Great Miami Buried Aquifer, noting the aquifer supplies drinking water to about 1.6 million people and that 67% of Riverside lies inside a protection area.

Riverside City Council on Dec. 1 approved a fourth-quarter supplemental appropriations ordinance and an ordinance authorizing up to $6.1 million in bond anticipation notes to refinance building debt; both measures passed on roll-call votes.

City staff presented the recommended 2026 budget showing modest revenue growth (0.4% income-tax increase) but sharply higher expenses and a $36.2 million CIP; officials warned a change to the Miami County Conservancy District assessment could reduce fund balances substantially over five years.

County development staff requested and the committee voted to forward Resolution 20250337, extending the sunset date for the Warner & Swayze brownfield matching forgivable loan to Dec. 31, 2026 to align with the project's revised schedule; staff said the developer sought the extension and the county loan is the county contribution to remediation work.

Resolution 20250339, awarding $3,235,983.69 in Community Development Block Grant funds to multiple municipalities for FY2026 and related CDBG‑CV projects, was advanced with a second‑reading suspension after staff described application outcomes and answered member questions about projects such as Maple Heights’ Southgate improvements.

Council amended and read Ordinance 120‑25 for first reading after the auditor reported transfer/refund needs grew to $1.1 million—about $750,000 more than previously budgeted—spurring debate on whether to suspend rules to expedite passage; a motion to suspend failed to reach the three‑fourths threshold.