POMEROY — Mick Davenport, president of the Meigs County Commissioners, will lead one of three regional legislative briefings for county commissioners across the state on Friday.

Commissioners Michael Bartrum and Tom Anderson will also attend the briefing, to be held this morning in Zanesville. Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb, R-Newark, will be the co-host for today’s session.

The meetings are organized by the County Commissioners Association of Ohio. Commissioners from Athens, Coschocton, Fairfield, Guernsey, Hocking, Licking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway and Washington Counties will be participating in the session.

State Rep. Debbie Phillips, D-Athens, and State Senator Jimmy Stewart, R-Albany, are also expected to attend, as are state legislators from the 94th, 91st, 93rd, 71st and Fifth districts.

“Recognizing that it will be a tight state budget and there has been limited growth in local revenue, it is important that state and local county governments work together closely and cooperatively for the good of their mutual constituents, the people of Ohio,” Davenport said.

“For many important government services, counties still rely on local government funds to implement state policy at the local level,” Davenport said. “Counties are the primary agents of the state in administering justice and prosecuting criminals, providing health and human services to needy citizens, managing the property tax system, improving infrastructure to foster economic development, and providing a myriad of other important governmental services to improve the quality of life for all Ohioans.”

“During these times of financial stress, it is vital that the partnership between state and county government be reaffirmed and strengthened,” Davenport said. “Ohio’s county governments will be seeking a commitment from the administration and the General Assembly to county government of fiscal securrity as one of the centerpieces of the biennial budget.”