Efficient, Responsive, & Fiscally Sustainable Government Operations

Efficient, responsive, and fiscally sustainable government operations are the foundation of a thriving, accountable local government. The commissioners put this principle into action by carefully managing the county’s $2 billion budget and by making sure we have the best, most dedicated local government team in Ohio, always focused on serving our community.

Agency Partner: Office of Management and Budget

The Franklin County Office of Management and Budget (OMB) provides expert financial guidance to help county leaders make informed decisions. Working closely with County Administration, OMB prepares the annual budget, which is submitted to the Board of Commissioners for approval. The office reviews budget requests from various agencies, ensuring resources are used efficiently and in alignment with each agency’s goals. OMB also tracks the progress of budgets throughout the year and assists in preparing any necessary adjustments for Board approval.

The office’s primary responsibility is to create the annual budget, which ensures the county has the necessary funds to deliver essential services to residents. This process requires careful planning to meet the needs of the community and address any emerging challenges by focusing on efficient, responsible, and sustainable resource use, OMB helps maintain the county’s long-term financial health. The office also prioritizes transparency with clear communication about the county’s operations and finances, ensuring residents understand how resources are being allocated to support high-quality services.

2024 Office of Management and Budget Stats:

59.3%


General Fund budget devoted to safety and security.

41%


All-Funds Budget devoted to human services.

$92 Million


Franklin County’s rainy-day fund.

Program Highlight: Residents’ Guide to the Approved Budget

The Residents’ Guide to the Approved Budget serves as a vital tool for anyone looking to understand how Franklin County’s budget supports community needs and priorities. Topics explored include the county’s budget process, organizational structure, revenue sources, and key investments planned for the upcoming year. Franklin County provides this guide as part of its commitment to transparency and to encourage residents to engage in informed discussions about investments in the community.

Find out more in the Residents’ Guide to the Approved Budget »

Residents’ Guide to the Approved Budget

Agency Partner: Human Resources

The commissioners recognize that the foundation of county government is its dedicated team members, who work tirelessly to keep operations running smoothly and ensure residents can access vital services and support. The Department of Human Resources plays a key role in this effort by providing quality employment services, effective training, and technical human resources assistance to the Franklin County Board of Commissioners and other designated agencies. Additionally, it oversees benefits and wellness programming for approximately 1,600 employees and the 14,000 individuals covered by the county’s cooperative health plan. Through ThriveOn, the county’s wellness program, the Benefits and Wellness division promotes whole-person well-being, ensuring employees and their families have the resources to stay healthy and thrive.

The Human Resources Department ensures responsible stewardship of the health fund, risk fund, and all department-managed funds by continuously improving contracts and pricing. HR promotes healthy behaviors that positively impact fund operations, supports employee growth through the UMatter training and professional development program, and has expanded tuition reimbursement to include certificate programs aligned with county positions. Additionally, HR regularly reviews operations to identify process improvement opportunities and enhances cost efficiency by centralizing key functions such as payroll, training, risk management, and HR operations.

Human Resources
Human Resources
Human Resources

2024 Human Resources Stats:

  • Employee Wellness Participation: Gym membership reimbursement participation increased by 26%, reflecting strong employee engagement in wellness initiatives.
  • Biometric Health Improvements: Positive changes were recorded in 5 out of 7 biometric risk factors, including key health indicators such as BMI and A1C levels.
  • Primary Care Engagement: A 1% increase was noted in employees establishing a relationship with a Primary Care Physician, supporting long-term health and prevention.
  • Employee Wellness Event: Achieved the largest-ever turnout for the county’s 5K event, signaling growing participation in wellness and community-building activities.
  • Hiring and Workforce Development: Hired 338 new employees and promoted 111 team members in 2024, demonstrating a strong commitment to recruitment, retention, and career growth.
  • Recruitment Volume: Reviewed 8,319 job applications, highlighting the continued interest in county employment opportunities and the demand for public service roles.
  • Combined Charitable Campaign: Raised $277,308 through the 2024 campaign, showcasing the generosity and civic spirit of county employees.
  • Countywide Employment Representation: Employed at least one resident from every ZIP code in Franklin County, ensuring broad geographic representation in the workforce.

Program Highlight: Coffee Careers & More

Launched in March 2024, Coffee, Careers, and More with Administrator Wilson is an initiative designed to engage directly with Franklin County residents. In collaboration with the HR Recruitment Team, Franklin County Administrator Kenneth Wilson has created an open forum to discuss county developments, future plans, and career opportunities within the Board of Commissioners’ agencies.

A key feature of each event is the opportunity for attendees to not only learn about job openings but also secure at least one interview for potential employment within county agencies. In 2024 the initiative hosted nine events, welcoming 101 attendees, conducting 24 interviews, and leading to four new hires.

Coffee Careers & More

Agency Partner: Purchasing Department

The Franklin County Purchasing Department plays a critical role in ensuring county agencies receive the goods and services they need efficiently and cost-effectively. By managing procurement, compliance, mail services, printing, and surplus property disposal, the department supports the seamless operation of government functions while maximizing taxpayer dollars. With a focus on innovation and strategic sourcing, it enhances operational efficiency and ensures responsible stewardship of public resources.

Committed to transparency and fiscal responsibility, the department operates in alignment with the county’s Every Resident. Every Day. initiative. It not only streamlines purchasing and administrative processes but also fosters economic growth by promoting equitable access to contracting opportunities. Through collaboration with community partners and businesses, the department helps sustain a procurement environment that is fair, inclusive, and beneficial to all stakeholders.

Program Highlight: Successful Election Cycle

In 2024, the Print Shop played a crucial role in ensuring a smooth and transparent election by partnering with the Franklin County Board of Elections. Through months of meticulous preparation, the team provided essential materials such as ballots, envelopes, and training documents, helping uphold the integrity of the election process. This collaboration ensures that residents can confidently participate in an efficient and accessible voting experience, reinforcing trust in the democratic system.

  • The total impression count for the 2024 General Election was 2,962,594.
  • Provisional Ballots – 789,746.
  • Absentee Ballots – 579,084.
  • Training Material – 356,012/sheet count.
  • Total envelopes for 2024 General Election – 258,000.
  • Estimated cost savings of $216,000.
Coffee Careers & More

The department consists of five key business units that support essential county operations:

  • Procurement Services: Facilitates purchasing for county agencies while ensuring compliance with the Ohio Revised Code and County policies. Actively promotes supplier diversity through outreach to Small and Emerging Business Enterprises (SEBEs) in collaboration with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
  • Compliance: Oversees purchasing and contract administration to ensure adherence to statutory and policy requirements. Manages records retention, contract documentation, P-Card administration, and fiscal analysis.
  • Mail Services: Handles interoffice and outgoing mail processing for county agencies, reducing costs through discounted rates, shared postage equipment, and centralized processing.
  • Graphic Arts/Print Services: Provides custom design, printing, and copying services at reduced rates to county agencies and local municipalities, ensuring cost-effective and timely production of materials.
  • Surplus Property Online Auction Services: Enables county agencies and local governments to dispose of surplus items via internet auctions, minimizing storage costs and generating revenue through GovDeals.

Beyond purchasing, the department creates opportunities by applying innovative sourcing strategies and working closely with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. These efforts help Small and Emerging Business Enterprises access county contracts, ensuring that Franklin County’s supplier network reflects the diversity of the community it serves.

Through education, outreach, and modern procurement practices, the Franklin County Purchasing Department continues to enhance efficiency, promote economic inclusion, and support the county’s mission of serving its residents effectively.

Purchasing
Purchasing

Purchasing: Procurement Services

The Procurement team led critical competitive procurements and contract activities for agencies, boards, courts and commissions across the county. Additionally, the team collaboratively participated in process mapping and other activities in support of our eProcurement project. And the team developed a formal training manual and program that will ensure new team members have all the tools necessary to learn, grow, and be successful.

Purchasing: Compliance

Compliance continues to enhance the review of the weekly PO batching process and finalized a SOP of related processes. Additionally, the P-Card program continues to grow, with enhanced training and security monitoring. Our compliance team supports agency education via the quarterly Fiscal Summit and direct agency engagement to ensure that county operations function efficiently.

Purchasing: Mail Services

Mail Services, along with Graphic Arts/Print Shop, initiated Agency Partnership meetings in 2024. These valuable engagements serve to provide education and inspire cost-saving collaborations between the agencies. As these meetings continue, we will be well positioned to meet the county’s growing needs.

Purchasing: Graphic Arts/Print Shop

At the Print Shop, modernization is embedded within our business plan. We continually seek to provide our customers with the latest innovative production offerings. In 2025, we’re looking forward to implementing a new work order processing system through JIRA which will promote a user-friendly experience, making it easier for our agency partners to place and track printing orders.

We’re also collaborating with partners on a Print Shop expansion project that will result in a professional environment that can accommodate production growth in terms of modern machinery, restructured workflows, and safety enhancements.

Purchasing
Purchasing
Purchasing

2024 Purchasing Department Stats:

Compliance:  
6,879 Total number of P.O.s processed
$509,907,827 Total dollar value of P.O.s processed
4,218 Total number of P-Card transactions
$1,371,764 Total spend through county P-Cards

Mail Services:
 
1,863,580 Total pieces of outgoing mail processed
$241,470.22 Total savings

This savings was accomplished by using our Criterion Elevate Sorter and Send Pro Enterprise solution for E-Certified mail.

Graphic Arts/Print Shop:  
14,508,582 Total # of Impressions
2,141,360 Total # of Envelopes
185,523 Total # of Tax Statements
1,480,194 Total # of Ballots produced
6,087,689 Total # of FCCC E-file documents
$1,272,275 Total cost savings

Surplus Auction:
 
5,941 items sold on GovDeals totaling $5,266,987 from 2003-2024

Purchasing goods and services for Franklin County is not simply a transactional endeavor… it’s a commitment to public service, shared values, and collaborative efforts to secure resources that will bring meaningful change to our community.

~ Purchasing Director Megan Perry-Balonier