Carpenter protests agency contracts

Commissioner seeks review of out-of-county contracts.

Coroner called to Caesar Creek Lake where boater fell overboard
Updated 14 min. ago
Road closing for railroad repairs
11:51 a.m.
Beach Waterpark sued for failure to deliver
Updated 1 min. ago
Worker falls 20 feet from utility pole
11:14 a.m.
Out-of-state shoppers arrested in clothing theft
10:14 a.m.
> More headlines

By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer 1:49 AM Friday, September 2, 2011

HAMILTON — Keeping tax dollars in Butler County is a priority to Commissioner Cindy Carpenter and she sent a message Thursday by voting “no” on some out-of-county contracts.

Carpenter’s was the lone “no” vote for adoption of contract agreements for Butler County Children Services with residential placement services in Cincinnati, Springfield, Wooster, Youngstown and Patriot, Ohio. The contracts totaled more than $650,000.

“I would like to see the effort put forth to review what services and tax dollars we are sending out of the county,” Carpenter told the JournalNews after the meeting. “It is about bringing in jobs and capturing as many dollars as we can in the county.”

That might require a change in the way the agency manages cases, Carpenter said.

“Maybe we can develop a different model. Take the time to look back at the service delivery system and keep those dollars in Butler County,” she said.

Commissioners Don Dixon and Charles Furman voted for the contract agreement, but Dixon said he supports Carpenter’s push to keep services local.

Dixon said he voted to approve the contracts because there are children in the system who need the services.

“But I do hope this can be a beginning of the transition to keeping services and tax money in the area,” Dixon said. “I think we can do it.”

Furmon said he, too, supports keeping as much money as possible in the county and “in a perfect world we could do it.” It is not always possible due to the specific needs of the children involved, he said.

Jeff Centers, children services director, said he understands Carpenter’s concerns, but the reality is there are so few residential placement services in the state “and zero in Butler County.”

Centers said some children have specific needs only some facilities can provide, and it is preferable whenever possible to keep children in the area for easy transport and access to workers.

Centers said the contracts act as holders for children that may be placed in programs, and it does not mean all the money will be spent. Currently there are about 10 children in residential placement.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.

Share this article