POST
Postal Customer Local / ECRWSS
PreSort Std U.S. Postage PAID Middlefield, OH 44062 Permit No. 77
Community News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Areas
OR CURRENT RESIDENT
Middlef ield Wednesday, April 29, 2026 • Vol. 18 No. 24 • FREE
Re-Elect
Jim
DV RAK for
Geauga County Commissioner
ANN WISHART/KMG
Middlefield Village Fiscal Officer Nick Giardina discusses the village’s financial outlook during the annual state of the village address April 21 at the DDC Clinic on Madison Road.
Nick Giardina: ‘People Want to Be Here’
Middlefield Village Growth Trending Upward By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com Middlefield Village officials reported strong financial performance and continued growth in business and population during an April 21 state of the village presentation. Village Fiscal Officer Nick Giardina and Mayor Ben Garlich delivered the annual update at a Burton-Middlefield Chamber of Commerce luncheon held at the DDC Clinic, describing recent trends as positive and accelerating. Giardina said economic indicators from 2023 through 2026 are “really escalating,” driven in part by
companies expanding or relocating to the village and an influx of new residents. He encouraged attendees to consider the broader implications of the data presented. “Clearly, the people moving into our community are making good incomes, as well. It’s not just inflation,” Giardina said. “Housing values are going up. There’s a real desire to move to Middlefield Village. People want to be here.” Income tax revenue from wages reached $1.32 million in the first quarter of 2026, up from $1.07 million in 2023 — a 27.1% increase, he said. “March income tax collections
finished 58.6% above March 2025,” he said. “This early-year strength is being led by income tax rather than by rate-driven utility growth.” Total first-quarter revenues for 2026 reached $10.7 million, including water and sewer funds. “Receipts were slightly below the same point last year, but expense control drove a much stronger, early-year surplus,” Giardina said, noting the first quarter of 2025 saw a surplus of $328,000. “The first quarter of 2026 is already at $848,000,” he said. Garlich agreed demand remains strong for housing, as well as commercial and industrial space. “People think the village has See Village • Page 7
Jim Experience We Need.
DV RAK
Trusted Leadership. Protecting Geauga Way of Life. for Geauga Commissioner Paid for by theCounty Committee to Elect Jim Dvorak www.Dvorak4Commissioner.com fb.com/Dvorak4Commissioner Paid for by the Committee to Elect Jim Dvorak
Town Crier page 2
Schools Pages 5 & 9
Faith Matters page 10
Classifieds page 11
facebook.com/middlefieldpost x.com/MiddlefieldPost