The Village of Bluffton’s finances appear to be in good shape, based on its Dec. 31, 2016, cash basis net position, says Nancy Kindle, village fiscal officer.

At the end of 2016, the village’s total assets were $4,952,478 in the following funds:
• Governmental activities
  (general fund and other funds) $3,846,652
• Business-type activities
   (things the village charges for: water, sewer, refuse) $1,105,826

These figures were part of the Feb. 27 council packet. The 2016 year-end figures are unaudited.

They compared to the recently-audited figures of Dec. 31, 2015, which showed village assets at $3,963,820. The 2015 comparable categories follow:
• Government activities
   $3,186,523
• Business-type activities
   $777,297

Based upon 2017 projected village allocations, the village should end the year with a balance of $2,459,218 in its general fund, $15,243 in its water fund and $53,413 in its sewer fund.

Kindle said that the 2016 year-end figures are better than she expected. Two items that helped the bottom line were better-than-anticipated income tax receipts and the surcharge taken in by the water fund that took effect in late summer.

“This allowed the village to take care of some needs that it was not able to meet in the past,” she said. One example is a more aggressive street repair program planned this year.

The financial health of the village is even more impressive knowing that the amount of state funds coming to the village has decreased significantly since 2009.

In 2009, the village received $400,899 in state revenue. In 2016, that decreased to only $96,810.

Several attachments below include charts showing:
• Revenue impacted by the State of Ohio from 2005 to 2016
• 2017 projected village allocations
• 2016 year-end fund balances