By They

November 24, 2010 10:25 PM | Link to this

The commisioners need to balance the budget without A TAX INCREASE. All of the departments need to live within the budget. If it takes laying people off so be it. I as a citizen,live within my budget every day, do not ask anyone to help me.

By They

November 24, 2010 10:28 PM | Link to this

When i come thru my neighborhood on a weekend day and a Deputy Sheriff is suppose to be working is at his home for several hours every weekend and the sheriff complains about cutting staff. I could care less.

By middletown resident

November 24, 2010 10:51 PM | Link to this

I am all for the increase to prevent more layoffs at the sheriff’s office especially road deputy’s we can’t afford more layoffs.

By Tom

November 25, 2010 7:28 AM | Link to this

More taxes? We can not afford it any longer.

By Russell

November 25, 2010 7:46 AM | Link to this

It’s a shame when we had a great run of prosperity for over 20 years they could of set revenues aside for a rainy day yet they spent like a bunch of fools with no foresight I say no to this tax live and learn the hard way don’t take money out of peoples pockets when in a time they need it the most.

By Scott

November 25, 2010 7:57 AM | Link to this

In the state of this economy, us working people have had to adjust and make do with less. If the the Butler County Agencies are hurting for money, as we working people are, then i say suck it up and make do with less! Just like the people you are trying to raise taxes on have had to do! I would be happy to volunteer to help out at the Metro-Parks, so suck it up, cupcakes, and trim the fat!

By Jim

November 25, 2010 9:07 AM | Link to this

The Commissioners’ argument for a sales tax increase goes like this - after “many years of uncontrolled spending” we are about to run out of money. So that we don’t run out of money to spend, we are now going to take another $10 million from the taxpayer - sounds like a sound argument to me.

By Just an observer

November 25, 2010 9:30 AM | Link to this

Remember, this is a small increase on sales that will be paid by everyone who purchases things in Butler County. I don’t live in Butler County, but when I am there spending my money, I will be supporting YOUR services, and it is still a lower rate than in my county.

By Consider this

November 25, 2010 9:37 AM | Link to this

An interesting myth about “sales tax free” internet sales is discussed here. http://www.ecommerce-blog.org/archives/the-myth-of-tax-free-internet-sales/ I particularly like the “enjoy the free ride section.

By null

November 25, 2010 10:02 AM | Link to this

are you kidding me? have some of the county workers take a pay cut seen what they get paid! no to the tax increase…

By tax needed

November 25, 2010 11:00 AM | Link to this

I support the sales tax for a period of time. 3 to 4 years. build a base budget that is capped in the general fund, pay off debt, build necessary reserves, and reduce property tax then back off the tax and have elected officials be responsible to stay within the budget caps. I believe I am like most other butler county residents and shop all over the cincinnati/dayton area and do not remember making a purchase decision based on 6.25 versus 6.5 or 6.75… sales tax rate - you can hardly notice the difference on the bottom line. This increase is a basic public safety increase, supported by our sheriff and other criminal justice offices ! Put on the tax and lets get butler county back on track - in a new fashion with controls in place this time.

By shadow knows

November 25, 2010 12:57 PM | Link to this

Well the unions whom are locked into contracts with the county need to relize that the day of the union is slowly coming to extension, This is the major cause of debt in the counties and cities. At one time they were needed but not in the days society. Plain and simple no more taxes, cut your budget, that goes for bcso also.

By Darrell

November 25, 2010 3:04 PM | Link to this

‘years of uncontrolled spending’ …. and now the leaders that be are proposing raising the sales tax. Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that is what the democrats did. Butler county and the city of Hamilton are run by republicans. What gives here? It’s time to answer, ‘leaders’. Are you hypocrites?

By HowRad

November 25, 2010 7:23 PM | Link to this

I wonder what “assets” might be availible, that might be used to make some money? What happen to the “fiber optic” network? More taxes are coming but we can’t afford increases in county, state, and the federal taxes.

By Letsthinkaboutit

November 25, 2010 7:58 PM | Link to this

With ALL adjacent counties having HIGHER tax rate, ButCo is cutting off its own nose to spite its face if they don’t raise the rate. When relocating to an area people will say “I heard Butler county is having financial isues, let’s not move there. The DON’T say” I’m not going there because their sales tax is the same as every other county!!”

By More ripping us off

November 25, 2010 11:56 PM | Link to this

Last time we raised taxes for something (the emergency radio system)the commissioners blew it. Where is that mnoney??? That is the question we all need to asking. When you raise a tax for something arent you supposed to use that money for that purpose. I see that Ricky Jones is for the tax raise. Im sure he would be because he gets something like a riase or more toys. Enough is enough…..

By hatjr

November 26, 2010 8:29 AM | Link to this

I think they don’t want to lay off their friends and Brother in Laws. If I could run my business that way I probably would. Instead I laid off all but my Key people.

By road runner

November 26, 2010 11:31 AM | Link to this

w f

By road runner

November 26, 2010 11:31 AM | Link to this

fu

By road runner

November 26, 2010 11:31 AM | Link to this

w f

By road runner

November 26, 2010 11:31 AM | Link to this

w f how many e/ms do u require ???

By road runner

November 26, 2010 11:31 AM | Link to this

w f

By Old hamilton residence

November 26, 2010 12:46 PM | Link to this

BC commission only solution is to raise sale tax. In the recession type economy, they think that this is going to raise revenue. Maybe , they should think about new way to create more jobs in the community,

By yNo

November 27, 2010 9:18 AM | Link to this

The commissioners have been negligent in their duties by allowing the County to get into this shape and not raising the sales tax…notice that they waited until after the elections to bring it up. The sales tax should have been raised to the levels of surrounding counties a long time ago. But, I also hope that the State comes in to ‘look over their shoulder’…maybe then we’ll find out all the other ways the County has really been negligent with our money. What real misdeeds do you think outside scrutiny would uncover?

By ugottobekidding

November 27, 2010 12:02 PM | Link to this

Now this really makes sence, pulling the sales tax off. I’ve seen the numbrs. What are they going to do? Mass layoffs are the only way to do this. You folks on the West side of the county, board up your houses and hire guards because there will be no police presence, and services will be next to nothing. Thanks commissioners for bending to a select few and not taking into account ALL the people of the county. Not one person would have felt the impact of this tax. It was fair and it would have been the right thing to do!! Politics as usual. Not one of you have the GUTS to do the right thing. I do hope the state cleans your clocks.

By Tom

November 27, 2010 1:01 PM | Link to this

The Commisioners have withdrawn the proposed tax increase from their agenda. This is a victory for the American people. America works as only the people work.

By youcallthisavictory

November 27, 2010 1:10 PM | Link to this

Thats fine Tom, you’ll be supporting me once I loose my job, and mark my words I’ll be milking the system for all I can and more. I have worked hard all my life and since you can’t pay a few pennies more on the dollar I have to forfit everything I have worked for. Hell of a victory. Enjoy yourself

By Cut Old Rick

November 27, 2010 3:53 PM | Link to this

The sheriff needs to do only what is required of him by law, run the jail and provide basic law enforcement. Not provide a dog warden, a navy, airforce, a bomb squad, and a mounted unit. There is far to much wasted by our spotlight loving sheriff such as the three lawyers on his staff.

By Hanover Taxpayer

November 27, 2010 4:00 PM | Link to this

Why the change of mind? One day they are all opposed to a tax increase, the next they all three support it with the sheriff supporting it, then back to no tax increase. Looks like our teaparty sheriff got sold out, now and for ever the sheriff will be known as Big Tax Rick. I hope the teaparty has seen the sheriff for what he is.

By DC

November 27, 2010 4:06 PM | Link to this

Commissioner Dixon lead the sheriff to believe that with the Sheriffs support the commissioners would all support the increase in the sales tax. Once again Dixon comes out looking like the good guy while smearing someone else.

By Tom

November 27, 2010 4:12 PM | Link to this

The problem here is we have three commissioners who can’t work together on anything or agree on anything. Add to this a county sheriff who is all about himself and can’t work with anyone. No wonder the county government is in such a mess with egos like Dixon and Jones running things.

By Ned

November 27, 2010 4:23 PM | Link to this

Here is an idea, since Commissioner Dixon likes to hire consultants to tell him how to run the county why not hire Derek Conklin, Tim Williams, Doug Duckett, William Turner, and Brian Coughlin, as consultants. When these guys were running county government things weren’t in this shape.

By idea

November 27, 2010 5:49 PM | Link to this

why not do what businesses do ? offer a severage package to all employees who have the number of years or combination or age and years to retire. either double the amount of sick time pay out to a retiree or simply provide a 12,000 to 15,000 dollar payment as incentive to leave. this will reduce unemployment costs, reduce amount of benefit payments based on salary, remove employees who currently have as much as 5 weeks of vacation per year; did anyone analyze this approach ? what would be the payback period ? I believe a better solution than just laying off employees and paying full unemployment and keeping the higher paid staff around for a more years. this is something the commission can do; maybe even have an agreement that the severance be paid in 2 years to reduce the initial cost ?

By Betty

November 27, 2010 8:25 PM | Link to this

Idea, this is what Derek Conklin proposed and Don Dixon threw one of this tantrums which resulted with Conklin leaving. It was and is a good idea, Dixon was and is to stupid to see that.

By Concerned Citizen

November 27, 2010 8:49 PM | Link to this

What about the Sunshine Law!!!!! Private meetings and decisions as those being reported are in violation of the Sunshine Law!!!!! Do we need the sales tax increase? Unfortunately, yes!!!!! Unless the true financial picture being fed to us is being distorted.

By do your job

November 27, 2010 10:25 PM | Link to this

what a bunch of goofs. on, off, on and off again - somebody needs to get a pair of there and make a decision. furmon and dixon might as well support the tax, with their indecisiveness and lack of true leadership they will never be elected again anyway. if the tea party scares them now they will kick their rear ends in the next election, the county government will be broke and services will be crippled and these goofs will still have done nothing to fix the problems. put on the tax you sniveling wimps - do your job and quit running scared every time somebody says they are going to oppose you in the next election.

By No New Taxes

November 29, 2010 9:34 AM | Link to this

Instead of asking for more tax money the sheriff needs to trim is budget by means other than laying off deputies. Cut the administration staff (get rid of the lawyers), cut the toys (boats and helicopters) and cut the perks such as take home cars for the administrative staff.

By bucdue

November 29, 2010 12:09 PM | Link to this

As a previous citizen of Butler Co. having lived in Indianapolis since 1987, I find your approach to be quite niave - you cannot continue to cut services to meet your budget, cut your ” fat ” out of the expenses - too many chiefs , NOT enough Indians !!

By bucdue

November 29, 2010 12:10 PM | Link to this

As a previous citizen of Butler Co. having lived in Indianapolis since 1987, I find your approach to be quite niave - you cannot continue to cut services to meet your budget, cut your ” fat ” out of the expenses - too many chiefs , NOT enough Indians !!

By Imaswitchin

November 29, 2010 1:00 PM | Link to this

Looks like Jones and his side kick dixon have bankrupted the county..good work “taxin jones” and tag along dixon.

By Republican

November 29, 2010 2:24 PM | Link to this

Rick Jones will now always been known for wanting to increase taxes. Any talk of higher political office if over. You can stick a fork in Jones, he’s politically done.

By Common Sense

November 29, 2010 3:55 PM | Link to this

Get rid of all the double-dippers that take advantage of the all the good citizens in this county by collecting two pay checks. The county is just about bankrupt! Quit protecting your cronies and do the right thing. Most of these DD’s don’t even deserve or earn one paycheck. This practice has gone on far too long. Get the Sheriff’s militia under control. He essentially has his own army and navy. Who do you think pays for the upkeep of all his army? Tax payers! 3. Offer the “buyouts” to anyone with 25 or more years of service. They can go and live off their sweet retirement packages. ** Commissioners: Just do it! Bite the bullet and worry about the political fallout you’ll suffer later.

By seriously

November 29, 2010 4:09 PM | Link to this

Are you people serious? We are talking about a quarter for every $100 you spend. Is this too much for your safety? I find it funny that at the meeting Dixon said “politics has nothing to do with this” and then at the workshop stated “this is the only solution to keep minimum services”. Well then the Tea Party makes some calls and all of the sudden nobody in the county wants an increase. Hmmm, thought politics wouldnt have anything to do with it don.

By Al Franklin

November 29, 2010 5:47 PM | Link to this

If the commissioners are dropping the tax plan what is their next plan. I want them to show us a plan to drop 7 million from the different offices and then show us what services would be left to run the county. Instead they will have the office heads make the cuts, then blame them when there is no service for the citizens of Butler County. Commissioners show us your plan!! We want to see if you can actually come up with a working idea. Show your plan to the citizens and let them see what the county will look like after your cuts. Stop pushing it off on other directors. Lead by example, cut your office first.

By Concered Citizen

November 30, 2010 6:52 AM | Link to this

Cutting more jobs will only REDUCE the amount of sales tax collected in Butler County. Comments in this column showed a lot of support for the tax. Why are the commissioners afraid to hold public hearings?

By Snoopy

November 30, 2010 7:46 AM | Link to this

I really cannot believe how many County empoyees are still driving County vehicles home everyday. Let the employees get to work using their own private vehicles, does GE, P and G supply employees with cars??? I think not.

By No more taxes

November 30, 2010 9:48 AM | Link to this

Are the deputies of the Butler County Sheriff’s department just now noticing that people are losing their homes in this economy? Their boss has been foreclosing on thousands of homes for the past two years and now they are crying because he may be foreclosing on theirs. Join the rest of us in the real world deputies; no one owes you a bailout.

By Upset

November 30, 2010 10:31 AM | Link to this

1st off,the commissioners are to blame for this problem by approving the building of elections building, the weather building &approving the new communications system,none of this was needed!We need this tax,25 cents on a $100.00, we can afford!We can’t afford any more cuts on people’s jobs & I hope it’s the commissioner’s who are in a wreck and hurt instead of me, when the response time of the officers and ambulance can’t get there!I do not want to live in those communities with low sales tax as they have nothing!Give me a break 25 cents on a $100.00, you won’t even feel it.

By Big Beat

November 30, 2010 11:12 AM | Link to this

Boy there are a lot of idiots who comment on this blog. Most probably don’t live in the real world or not in Butler County. constantly picking on the Sheriff and those who do most likely live in a City and don’t rely on the Sheriff for protection. The good people of West Chester just passed a Police Levey, no wonder they all have some education. The sales tax is needed no required.

By Oh Come On!

November 30, 2010 12:25 PM | Link to this

Every surrounding county charges the additional fraction of a percentage. If that was such a deterant to sales people in Warren and Hamilton Counties would flock to Butler to make at the very least their big ticket purchases. I am not a believer in high taxes or wasteful spending. But it’s time we do what is necessary to balance our budget. We’ve cut enough. Too much in some cases.

By retired and mad

November 30, 2010 1:05 PM | Link to this

I am a retired professional living in Oxford. A few weeks ago I was having dinner at a restaurant in West Chester, when I over heard a conversation between two gentleman at the table next to mine. What was interesting was that they were discussing the Butler County budget, and what they perceived as the problem in Butler County. I told them I had over heard their comments and introduced myself. The gentlemen were Attorneys whose offices were in Cincinnati, but they had cases and contact with Butler County Courts. It was their belief that one of the major problems was the excess in the general division of the Common Pleas Court. I was informed that each of the 7 Judges have elaborate staffs compared to other counties. According to my new friends, each Judge has his/her own magistrate, were most if not all other counties in Ohio the Courts have one or at the most two. They said that Warren County, Clermont County, and Hamilton County each have only one magistrate in the Common Pleas Court. Also each judge has a bailiff and secretary, and that the staffing of the court has increase ten fold in the past 10 years. They also pointed out that one of the Judges is hardly on the bench and is teaching at some judicial college in Nevada at county expense, the same judge, they pointed out who claims the court can cut 10% when in reality it could trim over a million dollars from its budget. I thought this was very interesting. I wonder why the Journal New has not looked into this??????

By Truth Seeker

November 30, 2010 2:01 PM | Link to this

FYI

By Truth Seeker

November 30, 2010 2:09 PM | Link to this

Retired and Mad & his “new friends” are right. The Sheriff & the Courts take almost 70% of the County’s budget! We know because our group has analyzed it. And by the way all you Deputies - ask yourself why hasn’t the Sheriff layed off one of his dog wardens instead of a deputy on road patrol? Why hasn’t the sheriff cut back in other areas of his dept (like the BIG Fat salaries he pays his top soldiers)INSTEAD OF LAYING OFF YOU? AND by the way just for your information the Tea Party kicked the Sheriff’s butt for supporting the sales tax and he tucked his tail between his legs and backed his support off raising the tax - NOW HOW IS THAT FOR THE TRUTH?

By Waste not

November 30, 2010 2:54 PM | Link to this

Speaking of our Common Pleas Judges, why does each one need his own court room. They hold court what, 3 hours a week, why couldn’t they share court rooms rather than taking up so much office space?

By Furmon's Gotta Go

November 30, 2010 9:28 PM | Link to this

Greg Jolivette and Chuck Furmon have sat as County Commissioners for well over a decade. Thanks to these two bobble heads, I heard the County’s real total debt is 100 million!! Thank God we will be rid of Jolivette soon! And Furmon will be going too as soon as his term is up whether he wants to or not.

By ACV

November 30, 2010 9:48 PM | Link to this

I have two words for anyone in government who proposes a tax increase: Eliminate Bureaucrats.

By Charles

December 1, 2010 2:13 PM | Link to this

If the average citizen knew the opulence of the second and third floor court chambers and offices they’d be out raged. Rarely does the average citizen have need to go through the security check point and into the intersanctum of the grand poobahs of our county court system, thus they don’t know that those two floors are like some kings castle.