Posted February 20, 200718 yr From the 1/3/07 Enquirer: Hearing today on transfer tax THE ENQUIRER Hamilton County commissioners scheduled a public hearing at 10 a.m. today to consider a proposal to raise the real estate transfer tax. The move, suggested by County Administrator Patrick Thompson in November as part of his proposed 2007 budget, would increase the fee home buyers pay in Hamilton County by an additional $100 per $100,000. The fee would generate about $4.7 million per year, money Thompson told commissioners in November was needed to balance the budget. Hamilton County's proposed 2007 budget is $255 million. The hearing is in Room 603 at the Hamilton County Administration Building, 138 E. Court St., downtown. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070103/NEWS01/701030358/1056/COL02
February 20, 200718 yr From the 1/24/07 Enquirer: Budget plan restores city patrols BY KIMBALL PERRY | [email protected] ANDERSON TWP. - Stressing the importance of public safety, Hamilton County commissioners want to continue funding a program that allows sheriff's deputies to patrol in the city of Cincinnati. When County Administrator Patrick Thompson submitted his proposed 2007 budget in November, he funded the program for only six months that pays to have more than a dozen deputies patrol the troubled neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070124/NEWS01/701240346/1056/COL02
February 20, 200718 yr From the 1/30/07 Forest Hills Journal: Residents tell commissioners fund film commission BY LIZ CAREY | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER ANDERSON TWP. - The message last week was simple: Fund the Greater Cincinnati Film Commission. The Jan. 23 meeting at the Anderson Senior Center was the first of three public forums where area residents could tell Hamilton County Commissioners Todd Portune, Pat DeWine and David Pepper how they would like county tax money spent for the 2007 fiscal year. [email protected] 241-7139 http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070130/NEWS01/701300334/1002/RSS01
February 20, 200718 yr From the 2/8/07 Enquirer: Focus on crime control and social services Hamilton Co. budget may reflect more money for both BY HOWARD WILKINSON | [email protected] Advocates of more spending for social services and programs aimed at helping at-risk youth before they turn to crime made their case to be included in the Hamilton County budget that commissioners are likely to approve next week. Most of them found they have some support on the board. In the third - and likely final - public hearing before commissioners act next week on a proposed $255 million general fund spending plan, commissioners heard from 15 speakers - many of whom had already spoken at earlier hearings in Lincoln Heights and Anderson Township. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070208/NEWS01/702080367/
February 20, 200718 yr From the 2/15/07 Enquirer: Hamilton County passes $252M budget BY DAN KLEPAL | [email protected] Hamilton County commissioners on Wednesday unanimously passed a $252 million general fund budget, which pays for services such as law enforcement, economic development and health care. The budget is a $4.5 million decrease from last year. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070215/NEWS01/702150335/
October 17, 200717 yr County warns of $35M deficit BY JOE WESSELS | CINCINNATI POST October 16, 2007 CINCINNATI - Officials are warning that Hamilton County will face a $35 million deficit next year, likely leading to layoffs of employees. In a letter sent to workers last week, County Administrator Patrick Thompson said falling revenues from the county's three main sources of income - sales and property taxes, and state funding - will force major cuts.
November 21, 200717 yr County may bill townships for patrols BY JOE WESSELS | CINCINNATI POST November 20, 2007 Facing a $35 million deficit in next year's budget, Hamilton County administrators are suggesting the county's townships pick up the tab for sheriff's patrols. The recommendation was floated Monday during the commissioner's weekly staff meeting, much of which centered on finding ways to bridge the gap in the county's $255 million general fund expected in 2008. [glow=yellow,2,300]Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. has deputies patrolling in 10 of 12 county townships and the village of North Bend. But only six of those jurisdictions pay for the service.[/glow] The fees vary from $350,000 to $1.57 million, annually. Officials are unclear as to why there is such fluctuation in the rates.
November 21, 200717 yr I'm just blown away by this...how in the hell can some communities get a free ride and others not?!?! If you don't want to pay to have your own department fine...it actually makes sense to reduce the redundant positions, but at least pay into the operations of the county services then. Why is it we have to cut the patrols in OTR and not the patrols in Green Township or the others that aren't paying a darn thing. Simply amazing!
November 21, 200717 yr ^--- Tip of the iceberg, my friend. You just see the tip of the iceberg. :evil:
November 27, 200717 yr Officers put on show of force County leaders: Let's rethink cuts BY JESSICA BROWN | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER November 27, 2007 GREEN TWP. - A sea of uniformed law officers filled the Nathaniel Greene Lodge on Monday night. Hamilton County Sheriff's Office deputies filled many of the seats, lined the back wall and spilled out into the lobby. Many brought their wives, husbands and kids. They were there to put faces to some of the most controversial recommendations by the Hamilton County administration to balance the tightest budget in years: cuts to public safety.
November 27, 200717 yr I really think the city duped the county on the OTR patrols. The county has a budget crunch partly because of those patrols and the city's new budget for 2008 has the city adding 20 new officers. I think the county should seek some reimbursement. At the very least it reflects poorly on the city, very disingenuous.
November 27, 200717 yr I see it like this, the Sheriff's OTR patrols were paid for by Hamilton County's general fund which is nearly broke. They can't be continued. Deputies are losing their jobs. The city didn't pay anything. Now as the county is struggling with a budget shortfall in not small part due to helping the city with OTR, now the city says in 2008 we can fund the hiring of 20 more police officers. So the city lets the county dig themselves a financial hole and then says hey we can add more cops to our streets. Probably the video gaming, sex in cars variety.
November 27, 200717 yr I see it like this, the Sheriff's OTR patrols were paid for by Hamilton County's general fund which is nearly broke. They can't be continued. Deputies are losing their jobs. The city didn't pay anything. Now as the county is struggling with a budget shortfall in not small part due to helping the city with OTR, now the city says in 2008 we can fund the hiring of 20 more police officers. So the city lets the county dig themselves a financial hole and then says hey we can add more cops to our streets. Probably the video gaming, sex in cars variety. Regardless its a terrible allocation of policing when OTR needs it the most by far.
November 27, 200717 yr Looking at crime in OTR as only a City of Cincinnati issue is misdirected; the region as a whole created the issue.
November 27, 200717 yr Jurisdictionally, the Hamilton County Sheriff covers the whole county, but traditionally, he does not patrol the City of Cincinnati or other municipalities. The recent action in Over-the-Rhine was a break from tradition.
November 27, 200717 yr ^Exactly...the residents of Cincinnati also pay into the Hamilton County funds. They too should be able to take advantage of the services the county offers. Sure Cincinnati is adding more police officers, but this is by no means something that has come easily. Community funding, social services, etc have felt the pinch that the city feels and then some so that police can continue to be added to the force. I don't think that it is wrong for Cincinnati to make tough decisions and then also ask for help on something they already pay in to.
November 28, 200717 yr It's a moot point now any way. The CPD won't allow them back. The city and CPD need to be held accountable if the crime rate in OTR shoots back up. Cincinnati cops: OTR is our turf BY KIMBALL PERRY | [email protected] Cincinnati police are adamantly against any other law enforcement agency patrolling city streets, the head of the Cincinnati police union said Tuesday. “We’ve very opposed to (Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputies) coming into the city. I don’t care what neighborhood,” said Kathy Harrell, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Queen City Lodge, No. 69, the union that represents about 1,100 Cincinnati officers. To read more: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20071127/NEWS01/311270058/
November 29, 200717 yr Commissioners keep property tax rollback November 28, 2007 | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER CINCINNATI - Hamilton County residents will continue to get a property tax rollback promised to them in return for their support of a sales tax hike back in 1996. County commissioners voted unanimously on Wednesday to keep the rollback. It had been suggested by the county administration that dropping the rollback would raise up to $20 million to stave off a looming deficit.
December 20, 200717 yr New budget has pain, gain Hamilton County makes cuts, sees 'better days' ahead BY JESSICA BROWN | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER December 20, 2007 CINCINNATI - Hamilton County commissioners passed a budget Wednesday morning that made deep, painful cuts to departments and valuable programs. But they also managed to save some things, keep basic services, and laid the groundwork to make the task less painful in future years. And they balanced the budget without raising taxes. The $271.5 million 2008 general fund budget was unanimously approved by the three-member commission. It is an 8 percent increase over what was budgeted in 2007, primarily because of one-time 2008 expenses involving the presidential election and an extra pay period.
January 9, 200817 yr Commissioners: No raises for us BY JESSICA BROWN | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER January 9, 2008 CINCINNATI - Hamilton County Commissioners today voted to give up their 2008 raises. They said they can’t in good faith keep their state-dictated raises after voting to eliminate the raises of county workers and laying off several people because of the tight budget. The three commissioners were due to each get a $2,372 raise this year, increasing their annual salary from $84,703 in 2007 to $87,075. They are encouraging other department heads to give back their 2008 raises too.
March 11, 200817 yr Budget deficit predicted for Hamilton County March 11, 2008 | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER CINCINNATI - Hamilton County is projecting a $12.1 million budget deficit in 2009, thanks to rising gas prices and declines in real estate values, local retail spending and investment income. "I don't think we've bottomed out yet," said Hamilton County Budget Director Christian Sigman. "Whatever growth we see from new development will be offset by declining housing values."
July 3, 200816 yr Hamilton County To Chop $10 M From 2008 Budget http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=ae3f1ce7-955a-411b-a888-94d0cd7ab40f
July 17, 200816 yr County makes 6% cut official Sheriff ending courthouse search, keeping copters http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/NEWS0108/807170383/1169/NEWS
July 17, 200816 yr Does Leis really need those damnable copters. . . Let's get him a blimp or something.
July 17, 200816 yr Wow... the first 2 or 3 paragraphs are VERY negative! Sometimes budget cuts are necessary.
July 21, 200816 yr Hamilton County sheriff slates budget cuts http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/07/21/daily9.html
August 29, 200816 yr What's that about karma? Commissioners taking look at who’s taking it home http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/09/01/tidbits1.html Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis can’t afford the gas to keep his road patrols running but he can afford fuel for the daily commute of dozens of employees. Or so it seems from an Aug. 7 report on the use of county take-home vehicles. [glow=yellow,2,300]The sheriff led all departments with 84 vehicles that go home with deputies, including specialized units used by SWAT teams, canine crews and investigative units.[/glow] The report was requested by Commissioner David Pepper, whose July 30 motion opines that the county’s fleet of 121 take-home cars might be “an unnecessary drain on the county’s budget.”
November 10, 200816 yr Budget proposal cuts 532 jobs http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081110/NEWS0108/311100073/1055/NEWS Hamilton County Administrator Patrick Thompson today released his recommended 2009 budget, which includes a $31 million reduction and elimination of 532 jobs. The recommended 2009 balanced budget totals $1.2 billion, with $241 million in the general fund.
November 10, 200816 yr Reduction in state funding for social services that will total over $40 million by 2010. How does that help save money at the county level?
December 13, 200816 yr Prosecutor: Township patrols unneeded http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081213/NEWS0108/812130350/1055/NEWS The Hamilton County Sheriff's office has spent untold millions over the years on services it never had a legal obligation to provide, according to the prosecutor's office. Namely: township patrols.
January 3, 200916 yr Ads on county sites? Chicago assessor making it work http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/01/05/tidbits1.html Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper thinks the county could generate about $30,000 a month by selling advertising on county-operated Web sites. He said the estimate comes from a Chicago company that sells ads on the Web page of Cook County Assessor James Houlihan, at www.cookcountyassessor.com. “The going rate these folks said you get is $6 per 1,000 page views,” said Pepper, who estimated Hamilton County sites generate 5 million page views per month – to the main site, www.hamilton-co.org, and ones operated by the auditor (www.hamiltoncountyauditor.org) and clerk of courts (www.courtclerk.org).
January 30, 200916 yr Greater Cincinnati's stadium tax worry piles up Growing shortfall pressures commission to cut promised rollback http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/02/02/story4.html Hamilton County stadium tax revenue fell $2.2 million short of expectations in 2008 and $5.8 million short of what county officials actually spent from the rapidly draining fund. The shortfall puts new pressure on commissioners to eliminate a property tax rollback that was promised when voters approved the stadium tax. It could cause county leaders to push for lease concessions from the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals. And it could lead to local civic leaders lobbying Congress to include Hamilton County in a new federal stimulus package.
January 30, 200916 yr Raising sales tax only makes people goto neighboring counties. That's one thing that's causing a problem.
January 30, 200916 yr Sales tax revenues are incredibly difficult to predict since they are so volatile. They go up and down with economic trends and they are very vulnerable to outside factors that are virtually impossible to factor into your projection. This, in a nutshell, is why a nationwide sales tax in lieu of income tax is a terrible idea. Forget the regressive vs. progressive tax structures of the two...the long-term planning is a mess and sets you up for failure.
April 21, 200916 yr County cuts: Not as bad http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090420/NEWS0108/904210313/1055/NEWS Hamilton County's budget is still looking at a $12 million shortfall this year because of bad economic conditions - but the county's budget picture is actually brighter now than officials originally feared. At the county commissioners' staff meeting Monday morning, County administrator Patrick Thompson and budget director Christian Sigman offered county commissioners a plan to make up for some of the lost revenues.
May 12, 200916 yr County sales tax revenue plunges http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090512/NEWS0108/905130305/1055/NEWS/County+sales+tax+revenue+plunges Hamilton County's sales tax revenues dropped 10 percent in February -- more than twice as much as expected -- but whether or not it will mean more county budget cuts remains to be seen. Christian Sigman, the county's budget director, delivered a report to the county commissioners this morning saying that the county's February sales tax revenues were down $507,876 -- 10.03 percent -- from the same period last year. "What it means is that we are still facing significant budget challenges; and, if it doesn't get better, we may have to cut more,'' said Commissioner Greg Hartmann.
May 24, 200916 yr County posts online survey, wants your input http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090524/NEWS0108/905250325/1055/NEWS/County+posts+online+survey++wants+your+input+ Want to help shape how Hamilton County spends its budget next year? You can do it by just filling out an online survey at www.hamilton-co.org.
June 8, 200916 yr So, anyone want to run against this guy? You would have my vote!!! Is he really still bitter over UT not becoming a mall 30 yrs ago?????? Seriously? Time to get back to common sense http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C2/20090604/VAV02/906040307/ A silver lining to the current economic crisis is that it may focus attention on overreaching governments, spending our money on things not required by law. Local examples of questionable, expensive, "feel good" projects being paid for or proposed while basic services suffer are obvious. One is The Banks riverfront development. The importance assigned to this city of Cincinnati project is way beyond what Hamilton County can afford. As public safety employees are being laid off, county commissioners keep spending millions on this project of dubious merit.
June 8, 200916 yr What a moron. Union Terminal needs $100 million for restoration efforts. The museums there are doing fine, but not raking in enough cash to restore that massive beauty that is Cincinnati Union Terminal. He mentions the stadiums as failed efforts to somehow say the proposed streetcar will also be a failure. I wonder why he didn't mention the expansion of the convention center, renovation of Fountain Square or complete rework of Fort Washington Way. All of those major projects came in on time, under budget and did spur lots of economic development. As for The Banks, maybe he doesn't realize that private enterprise is "doing it." The city/county are helping pay for the infrastructure at the site which is pretty standard for any development project. Moron.
June 8, 200916 yr So, anyone want to run against this guy? You would have my vote!!! Is he really still bitter over UT not becoming a mall 30 yrs ago?????? Seriously? Time to get back to common sense http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C2/20090604/VAV02/906040307/ A silver lining to the current economic crisis is that it may focus attention on overreaching governments, spending our money on things not required by law. Local examples of questionable, expensive, "feel good" projects being paid for or proposed while basic services suffer are obvious. One is The Banks riverfront development. The importance assigned to this city of Cincinnati project is way beyond what Hamilton County can afford. As public safety employees are being laid off, county commissioners keep spending millions on this project of dubious merit. Is the author minimally observant? Not even "reduced traffic congestion" Dusty? I would hope the auditor would realize that increasing property values will increase property tax revenues.
June 8, 200916 yr It sounds lik etheauthor want's Cincinnati to be another Buffalo instead, yet even it has light rail.
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