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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 > Entry
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
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By Mary
February 11, 2011 2:16 PM | Link to this
Years ago (1950’s) civil defense was under the Department of Defense and was limited to war-related activities. At that time each political entity was required to have a civil defense department. It was more economical to have one agency rather have one for each city, village, township, and the county and have each entity contribute to the budget. At that time, the townships primary funding source was the county. Rather than have each township pay to the agency, the county made the payment for them since the townships would have had to rely on the county to increase their budget to include the payment. At that time, the funding for the agency was a 50-50 match. Fifty percent local funds and fifty percent from the state. Since those early days, civil defense has changed to emergency managment and is now under the department of public safety. It’s activities cover any and all emergencies or disasters that could possibly effect the county. As I understand it, the local funding has remained basically the same (per capita), although there are funds available from state and federal funds for specific activies.
By Just Wondering
February 11, 2011 3:41 PM | Link to this
Maybe the “Agreement” should be looked at. I recall back in 2008 Commissioner Don Dixon saying the agreement was illegal and was’t binding on anyone.
By Pete
February 15, 2011 9:13 AM | Link to this
Where is the Teaparty when this group ask for more money and bigger government?