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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 > February > 09
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
EMA payments
Though a 1989 agreement with each of the cities, townships and villages spells out each will pay into the Butler County Emergency Management Agency, it had not been the case for a number of years.
According to County Commission staff, the only document on file is the 1989 agreements with each governmental entity within the county — so that begs the question of, “Why haven’t the townships paid into the EMA.”
But no one seems to be able to answer this question. The only answer I’ve been able to acquire is, “It’s always been this way.” But it sounds like the previous EMA director didn’t enforce the township payments, according to some on the EMA executive committee.
Mark Sutton, the county EMA executive committee chair and Fairfield Twp. trustee, said it’s been that way before he came on board 14 years ago.
But regardless of why they didn’t pay — though a question that still needs to be answered — townships will once again be paying its EMA assessment beginning with the 2012 budget year.
In all, it’s expected to be about $60,700 with West Chester Twp. paying the most of all townships (around $21,900).
It will be tough to add this expenditure for any governmental entity, especially for the smaller cash-strapped townships. But it’s something apparently that they should have been paying all along. And with anticipated cuts in Ohio’s local government funds, it will be even tougher.
The county does pay into the EMA, but just the equipment expenses. All operational expenses are paid by the jurisdictional assessment — which in 2012 will be 39 cents per resident.
And a question was posed to me by a reader, Why doesn’t the county pay for the entire EMA service?
There’s two answers to this: First, the county is already trying to cut expenses so adding an additional couple hundred thousand to its budget isn’t likely. Second, there was an agreement in place that says the townships, villages and cities will pay for operational expenses.
What are your thoughts on this?
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Butler County, Emergency Management Agency
TweetBoehner’s next ‘Open Door’ session set
Here is the schedule for Speaker of the House John Boehner’s next Open Door Program session. Office hours for the readership area of the Hamilton JournalNews and the Middletown Journal, and our sister weekly papers, are on Thursday, Feb. 17.
Boehner’s staff states this is an opportunity where 8th Congressional District residents can meet with a member of the Speaker’s staff “to ask questions, discuss problems, and offer opinions about issues related to the federal government.”
Staff from Boehner’s office will be at the following locations on Tuesday, Feb. 15:
9 a.m. — Huber Heights City Hall, 6131 Taylorsville Rd.
10:30 a.m. — Huber Heights Senior Center, 6428 Chambersburg Rd.
2:30 p.m. — Riverside Municipal Building, 1791 Harshman Rd.
Staff from Boehner’s office will be at the following locations on Thursday, Feb. 17:
9 a.m. — West Alexandria City Building, 16 North Main St.
10 a.m. — Eaton Municipal Building, 328 North Maple St.
11:30 a.m. — Hamilton City Council Chambers, One Renaissance Center, 1st Floor
1:30 p.m. — Trenton City Building, 11 East State St.
2:30 p.m. — Monroe Municipal Building, 233 South Main St.
Thoughts? What would you like to ask the Speaker?
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: 8th District, Butler County, John Boehner, Speaker of the House
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