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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 > March > 14
Monday, March 14, 2011
Jolivette speaks cutting local governement funds
Former Butler County Commissioner Greg Jolivette — who is considering a run at his old state representative seat — hopes fellow Republican Gov. John Kasich will take it easy on local government funds when his budget is released on Tuesday.
“I’m very concerned what the governor is going to be proposing for the local government funds. The whole county receives about $14 million to $15 million, and the county government receives about $4.4 million. If the governor is proposing to cut that — and rumors say that he’ll cut half this year and all of it by next year — there will be a tremendous cut to services, and also to all other cities and townships in the county.”
Jolivette said he’ll be writing to his state representative and state senator to battle against cutting the local government fund — or at least salvage as much as they can.
“Legislators need to protect the local government fund as much as possible, but at the very least have (the cuts) phased in over a number of years so that entities can absorb it into their budgets. I would propose it wouldn’t take effect until next year and phase in from that.”
Local legislators’ “top priority” should be protecting the local government funds, he said.
“I’m not sure what ramifications will have (for local communities) but it’s certainly going to be a very drastic measure,” he said. “It’s got to put the burden somewhere on those communities to provide the services we’ve come to expect.
“It’s nice we can send our money to Columbus so a good portion of it comes back. But now our money’s going to be going to Columbus and not coming back. It’s not acceptable to me.”
Many local governments rely on local governments for the majority of their budgets. To not rely on the local government funds as much, Jolivette wants the county to use its marketing strength through a proposal he’s pitched before.
“The county, we need to focus more on economic development because the county’s sales tax revenues have been reduced as other counties around us have seen an increase,” he said.
“I’m not seeing the increase, which means purchasing dollars are leaving the county,” he added, saying he attempted to spearhead an effort — ‘Buy Butler County’ — that didn’t get the needed support.
“We need to look at our efforts to increase attractiveness to our residents and others outside of the county to leave their purchasing dollars inside the county.”
Thoughts?
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Butler County, State House of Representatives, Statewide issues
TweetElevators maintenance cost drops, service doesn’t
Newly appointed central purchasing manager Randy Quisenberry had worked to renegotiate contracts with elevator service provider ThyssenKrupp to save the county roughly $55,000.
Building off work started by others, including Office of Management and Budget Director Pete Landrum, Quisenberry told the commission the maintenance contracts will now be $65,000 for 2011. For 2010, the cost was $110,000. He also said to the commissioners at their meeting Monday that the level of service will not change.
ThyssenKrupp’s relationship with the county goes back to 1976, Quisenberry said.
This is the first presentation Quisenberry made to the commission since being appointed to this post earlier this month. On the initial efforts of others with this contract, the apparent fruits of his labors is starting to ripen.
Thoughts?
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: County Commission, County budget
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