The Bluffton School Board met on Monday, April 20 with board president Roni Kaufman conducting the meeting.
STUDENT FEES UNCHANGED
Superintendent Greg Denecker reported that student fees for 2026-2027 will remain unchanged. The district attempts to keep them as low as possible.
The Bluffton Council met on Monday, April 13 with Mayor Rich Johnson presiding. Ohio Northern Engineering students made a presentation on potential traffic and streetscape improvements. Topics under discussion included the adoption of Bluffton Police Department body cameras and the development of public pickleball courts. A scheduled AEP power outage for parts of Bluffton on Saturday, April 18, is expected to occur from about 3:00-8:00 a.m.
The Village of Bluffton Council met on Monday, March 23 with Mayor Rich Johnson presiding. The meeting packet is attached HERE.
VILLAGE ADMINISTRATION
Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn announced that the Village has been awarded $500,000 towards Phase 3 of Legacy Park. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has provided the award through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The Board of Education has approved the Bluffton Exempted Village Schools budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 as requested by the Allen County Budget Commission in February. In a financial forecast provided to the State of Ohio, the district has estimated that expenditures will exceed revenues during Fiscal Years 2027-2029.
At its March 9 regular meeting, the Village of Bluffton Council advanced budget allocations and employee salary and wage increases for 2026.
Reporting for the Personnel Committee, council member Phill Talavinia presented a 4% increase for full and part-time employees. Also reporting for the Finance Committee, he noted that 2026 budget allocation legislation will need to pass by emergency at the next meeting (March 23).
