LEBANON — For members like Gerald Russell, creating one United Way organization takes the passion out people have for Warren County.

More than 200 Warren County United Way voting members will vote Thursday, Feb. 4, for a proposed merger of the organizations in Warren and Butler counties. Butler County has already agreed to the merger.

“For years people have stood behind the organization with their giving because it’s what we do in Warren County. When you take the heart out, I don’t see this happening,” Russell said.

Leaders from both volunteer organizations say the merger is needed to reduce administrative costs and burdens to programs and agencies that operate across both counties and elimination of redundant processes. They say it will add greater potential for support from individual and corporate donors because there is a single organization to work with.

The proposed merger will help solve problems that don’t stop at a county border, said Bruce Jewett, Butler County’s board president.

Those against the proposed merger in Warren County challenge how it could happen without a business plan, say it’s happening too fast and question if agencies will receive the same representation after creating the new organization.

Board member Tom Clark said he understands the concerns that have been raised about the lack of a formal business plan, but said the components for such a plan have already been completed.

Clark said the main reason why no plan was prepared was because of the difficulty of forecasting future revenues of the organization.

The two organizations provided funding to more than 100 programs last year and have 59 partner agencies, with contribution campaigns of $2.45 million in Butler County and $2.4 million in Warren County.

Tax filings available for both organizations show each has had to dip into their cash reserves from 2005-08 to continue the same level of allocations and services for their agencies. Revenues have increased each year, but the contribution campaigns have stayed nearly level in the past five years.

According to merger information documents, Warren has a reserve balance of $296,000 or about two months of allocations. Butler has $365,000, or about two months of allocations as well as an additional board-designated reserve of $414,000.

After three years of talks ended last summer to create a regional United Way with Greater Cincinnati, Butler County, Warren County and Dayton, board members from Warren and Butler counties started the discussion on the possible merger.

Alan Schussheim, a Warren County United Way board member, says nothing can be guaranteed, but added he believes bylaws created for the proposed merger leave Warren County in a good position.

“There’s too much at stake with our agencies and the people they provide for. Why we would ever do something to compromise this?” Schussheim said.

The merger vote takes place at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Warren County Administration Building in Lebanon. Voting will stop at 9 p.m.

If the merger fails, Clark said the Warren County organization would get back to its normal business and complete the allocation process that has been delayed due to the merger activity. He said the board will then look at funding and begin its planning, budgeting and finalize its business plan for next year’s campaign.

Steve Hathaway, who will be stepping down from the board later this spring, said he would like to see the organization work collaboratively with neighboring United Ways in the region on joint projects and ventures.

“Whether there is a vote to create a new United Way or stay as a county United Way, there is still much work to be done,” Hathaway said.