Hilliard · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hilliard public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Grant program criteria and accountability
Council wrestled with fuzzy rules all afternoon — whether salaries can be funded, how to verify Hilliard residents benefit, and whether repeat applicants become too reliant. Next year's applications will need line-item budgets and resident-service numbers.
Tax levy certification deadline
Council had to pass the annual tax levy certification ordinance tonight or miss the county's October 31 deadline, so they suspended the normal two-reading process and passed it 7-0 the same night.
Employee Compensation Study Implementation
The city's first comp study in over five years recommends tightening pay bands, raising range maximums 5%, and restructuring positions — including adding a public service operations manager and an economic development administrator.
Cancelling the Purdy Bull CRA tax incentive agreement
A tax incentive agreement is being cancelled because the business was sold to a national chain that won't meet job requirements.
Stop-loss insurance renewal
The city's annual stop-loss insurance renewal with Anthem comes in at a 3% increase, capped at $941,000, after two years of minimal or zero increases.
2025 Clean Audit
The City lacks updated reserve, investment, and debt policies. Council wants those drafted by mid-2027 and wants to confirm investments stay in the U.S.
Financial policies: reserve, investment and debt
The council agreed the city needs new or updated reserve, investment, and debt policies, plus answers on how investments are made and current debt levels — due by the end of October 2026 with policies by mid-2027.
Paid parental leave for city employees
A new benefit would give non-union city employees up to eight weeks of paid parental leave for birth, adoption, or foster placement, plus paid leave for pregnancy loss. Union employees would need to negotiate it in contracts.
Electric aggregation program extension
The city extended its electric aggregation agreement for up to 24 months while watching daily market pricing. Residents can opt out at any time without penalty, but the city's contract term is fixed once executed.
Outdated finance software replaced
The city's 1990s-era finance system gets a $500,000 Oracle replacement, plus $120,000 in backup storage — upgrades aimed at preventing budget errors like The Well's.