By 1808Delaware
Nearly 240 people gathered today as Delaware County Commissioners Jeff Benton, Barb Lewis and Gary Merrell hosted their ninth annual State of the County event, held this year at the newly renovated Ohioan Hotel and Event Center.
The one-hour presentation marked a return of sorts for the site itself. The venue, formerly known as the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center, provided the setting for a program that looked both backward and forward, reviewing recent County accomplishments while previewing projects, investments and civic milestones still to come. The Commissioners also used the occasion to highlight upcoming events tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary, placing local government work within a broader year of commemoration.
Buildings, Roads And Growth
Much of the presentation focused on the physical infrastructure of a growing county. Among the projects discussed were the renovation of the Willis Building, home to the Delaware County Board of Elections, and an expansion of the County’s wastewater treatment facility along Rt. 315. Commissioners also pointed to economic-development progress connected to years of public investment in Sawmill Parkway, Wilson Road and Home Road.
The message was clear: Delaware County’s growth has required long-term planning, and County officials believe those earlier infrastructure decisions are now producing results.
A major upcoming project is the $35.8 million Shared Services Building planned for the County’s Byxbe Campus. The facility will bring together several public-facing agencies, including the County’s Job & Family Services Department, the Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health & Recovery Services Board, and the Veterans’ Services Office. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for May 18, 2026, with construction expected to be completed by late 2027.
Commissioners emphasized that the County continues to move forward on road and facility projects without incurring debt.
Property Taxes Take Center Stage
This year’s event also placed significant attention on property-tax reform and relief, a subject that has drawn growing attention across Ohio. Delaware County has offered rollbacks on the “inside millage” property taxes it is permitted to collect for many years, including a 1-mill rollback that has been in place since 2007. An additional 0.5-mill rollback, enacted in 2022, has provided $25 million in tax relief to County property owners.
A video featuring Delaware County Auditor George Kaitsa addressed the broader debate over property-tax reform.
“As you are likely aware, there is a movement afoot in this state that would abolish property taxes,” Kaitsa said in the video. “No one wants to pay more taxes, but the total elimination of property taxes – without a thoughtful and well-reasoned plan to replace that revenue – would do irreparable damage to our schools, our roads, our parks, our police and fire services as well as the many other services that we all depend on each day.”
Kaitsa also explained reform efforts already underway, framing the issue as one that requires both relief for taxpayers and protection for core public services.
A Tribute To Barb Lewis
The event ended on a personal note with a surprise video honoring Commissioner Barb Lewis, who will retire after December 2026 when her current term ends. Lewis has served as a Delaware County Commissioner since 2015. Before that, she was a Genoa Township Trustee. Her time in county government has coincided with a period of intense growth, major infrastructure planning and expanded public services.
“Your passion, courage, tenacity and strength of character will be missed,” Commissioner Merrell said in the video.
Commissioner Benton added, “Together we have navigated a lot of change and smart growth in Delaware County, and you have always kept the people you serve top of mind in doing so.”
The tribute closed with a testimonial from Dustin, a resident Lewis has never met, but whose life has been changed by the County’s Stepping Up Initiative. The program, based at the County Jail, helps prepare people to re-enter society and succeed after incarceration.
“It all adds up to a new life and it wouldn’t be possible without people like you, Barb, who have worked so hard to get this program going and to keep it going,” Dustin said in the video. “I still have a long ways to go, but I’m on the path to health and happiness. Thank you, Barb.”
Looking Beyond The Presentation
The annual State of the County event served its familiar role as a public report card, but this year’s program also carried a broader message. Delaware County officials are preparing for continued growth, major public-building projects, property-tax debates and a milestone national anniversary. They are also preparing for a transition in leadership, as one of the County’s longest-serving current commissioners approaches the end of her time in office.
The Commissioners’ presentations and videos are available for viewing on the County website.
