State ex rel. Celebrezze v. Board of County Commissioners

The issue presented for our determination is whether writs of mandamus should issue compelling the Allen County Commissioners, the Tuscarawas County Commissioners, and the Auglaize County Commissioners (hereinafter “the appellees”) to make additional appropriations for their respective public assistance funds. Whether the writs should issue in these cases depends on the meaning to be given to the word “balance,” as it is used in R.C. 5101.161. For the reasons that follow, we hold that the complaints for the writ of mandamus were properly dismissed by the courts below.2

In relevant part, R.C.…