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Michael D. Pitman reports about Butler County, Ohio, politics, county government, countywide issues and Butler County people just like you for Cox Ohio Publishing (including the Hamilton JournalNews, Middletown Journal and several weekly papers in Butler County). He wants your suggestions and questions for more news stories. Leave a comment for him here or e-mail Michael at Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2011 > January > 19 > Entry
MetroParks funding issues
There has been some misconceptions from citizens about the cuts made by the Butler County Commissioners and the MetroParks of Butler County.
While the commission had cut for 2011 an anticipated payment of $400,200 to the parks district, it is not taking money from the recently approved parks levy. It legally can’t.
The $400,000 payment is from property transfer fees the county agreed to pay MetroParks when it built the Ronald Reagan Lodge at VOA Park. That payment goes toward debt payment of that capital project, according to park officials.
At first, that money was more than enough to pay for the debt service with money left over for projects. However, that hasn’t been the case in the last couple years.
I think it’s also important to keep in mind that the MetroParks is a separate entity from Butler County. So the question I’ve been hearing, “How can the county dip into the levy funds?” Well, the county isn’t dipping into levy funds. The county is choosing not to provide money that isn’t mandated to provide.
I think the confusion is coming from statements made by MetroParks officials. Parks district executive director Jonathan Granville said the anticipated plan coupled the funding from the 0.5-mill levy with the annual payment. In other words, they counted on that annual stipend. And $400,000 is a big hit in a small budget.
What are your thoughts?
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Butler County, County Commission, MetroParks
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By Willie
January 19, 2011 10:48 AM | Link to this
Legally they can take the levy money but if he could Don Dixon would. He’d also offer all the jobs at MetroParks to his friends and political cronies after meeting privately with Missy Cindy.
By Bob
January 19, 2011 10:51 AM | Link to this
Darn I came to the blog hoping to comment on the Dixon Coup.
By Pro Parks
January 20, 2011 9:29 AM | Link to this
Too bad the Commissioners have to make their budgeting problems someone else’s! They need to solve their own issues without passing (or taking!) the buck!!
By Kris
January 20, 2011 10:48 AM | Link to this
It feels like the county government is really taking advantage of voters. If voters hadn’t been generous enough to pass the levy, would the county have decided to pull funding?