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HAMILTON — Butler County commissioners have announced nine layoffs and said more are to come as Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland continues carving the state budget.

The impacted positions administer social service programs, and commissioners worried that too drastic of state cuts could impact programs for the needy at a time when a souring economy is leading more people to seek help.

The layoffs were announced Thursday, Oct. 9, and are effective Nov. 7. The county also announced that 11 other positions in Job and Family Services won't be filled.

Some of these positions are being eliminated as part of a merger of the agency's finance department with Butler County Children Services, which officials said will save the county $322,664. Others include part-time clerical specialists and day care providers.

This brings the total number of staff in Job and Family Servicse to 177 — and dropping.

"With the cuts and the economic woes of the state, I don't think that number will hold. I think it will decline further," said County Administrator Tim Williams.

Job and Family Services Deputy Director Jerome Kearns said he is expecting deep cuts in coming years to programs that provide temporary assistance to needy families, child care for low-income residents and food stamps.

While the amount of money actually going to needy residents is untouched, the amount to administer these programs locally — which totals $11.2 million this year — is expected to drop roughly $534,000 this year, another $1 million-plus next year and another half million the year after that.

Some of these programs are already underfunded, Kearns said, and more cuts will eventually impact service delivery.

"The needs of our community are going to go higher, but the state is reducing our allocation," said County Commissioner Gregory Jolivette.

This follows an announcement in September that 10.5 positions will be cut in Children Services, 5.5 through layoffs. And the county is still mulling whether to hire an outside agency to scour the budget for more staff cuts.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or jsweigart@coxohio.com.