Cuyahoga County Council’s Committee of the Whole heard presentations on the recommended 2026–27 budgets for the council and the county executive on Nov. 3.

Joseph Nani, chief of staff for county council, told members the council’s recommended biannual budget appears on page 97 of the budget book and lists total recommended amounts of 2,789,000 for 2026 and 2,838,000 for 2027. He said roughly 97% of the council budget is salary and benefits, and that the recommended staffing level includes 11 full‑time staff and 11 council members (the same FTE count as prior years). He also said the office carried an $80,000 appropriation reduction in 2025 to help offset a projected county deficit.

Eric Janis, chief of staff to County Executive Chris Ronade, presented the executive office’s recommended budget: $1,540,000 for fiscal 2026 and $1,840,000 for fiscal 2027, with 12 positions. Janis said a grant‑funded chief health and equity officer position appears in year two as a general‑fund line but that the administration expects to secure grant funding to cover the role. Janis also said the executive is reviewing the status of diversity, equity and inclusion programs and that the law department is advising on grant compliance; he said no final decisions have been made.

Council members asked about vacancy savings and whether retirements would reduce personnel costs in 2026; Nani said any savings depend on whether positions are filled. Members also pressed Janis on how state and federal conversations about DEI may affect county programs; Janis said the executive is coordinating with the law department and will bring changes, if any, before council.

At the start of the hearing, the clerk read “Resolution 20250293, adopting the 2026–27 biennial operating budget and capital improvements program,” into the record. The reading was entered on the hearing record; no committee vote or roll‑call vote on adoption took place during this hearing.

The hearing continued with department presentations and questions; council scheduled further budget hearings for Nov. 6. }