For some closely associated with county government, the calamity arrived some time ago. For the rest of us, the county’s budget crisis is forcing the painful, protracted right-sizing — still a work in progress — of a county government that many perceived as too large, bloated, unethical and politics-driven. And politics often get in the way of the process.
That said, we have to acknowledge that — despite our recent criticisms of county excesses — we’ve been encouraged by some of the measures that commissioners are at least giving public consideration. For example:
• Commission President Greg Jolivette continues to push for a study on whether the county should have fewer dispatch centers for its new over-budget emergency radio system. The study would cost between $57,100 and $99,500 (according to recent bids) but could be a major cost-saver down the road when equipment maintenance and repairs at nine (yes — count ’em — nine) dispatch centers are required. Why Butler County has nine dispatch centers, instead of three (as Jolivette has suggested) or perhaps even just one, is one of those politics-driven decisions that defies common sense and epitomizes the county’s flawed decision-making, made in the years the county could afford expensive mistakes.
By comparison, the Hamilton County Communication Center has become the primary 911 answering point for 47 entities serving a residential population of more than 500,000 people, according to that center’s website. It also provides dispatching services to 105 police, fire and EMS agencies.
Consolidation is a no-brainer and should move forward. Letting every major jurisdiction have its own dispatch center is a luxury this county can no longer afford.
• Commissioners recently rejected a fact-finding report in its stalled contract negotiations with the union representing sheriff’s deputies, balking at generous pay raises it recommended. The raises are “simply out of line,” the commission’s attorney told them. However, the union drew blood, in our estimation, when it argued that the county must have money if it can afford to enforce immigration laws, the current sheriff’s self-assigned mission.
Recession-weary taxpayers will be expecting commissioners to be conservative on future union contracts and to ensure basic police services are provided.
• Commissioners will hear a presentation this week on a ticklish request from the senior citizen centers in Hamilton, Middletown and Oxford. The centers want commissioners to boost the anticipated $10.4 million elderly service levy renewal by about $1.58 million a year, funds that would be earmarked for the centers. Like most other enterprises, they are struggling in today’s economy, the centers say.
Commissioners undoubtedly are uneasy about the request because this is the same levy that was on track to collect $21 million more than was needed to provide elderly services to qualified Butler County seniors — until red-faced commissioners reduced tax collections. Even without the addition for the senior centers, commissioners would be scrutinizing this ballot issue more closely than most. After all, it was their credibility with dismayed voters that was damaged when the over-collection was discovered. We expect commissioners will apply similar scrutiny to the centers’ request.
• Jolivette, who will leave office at the end of the year, has continued to bring up the possibility of a sales tax rate increase to ease the county’s budget crisis. Raising the county’s tax rate from 6.25 percent to 6.5 percent would generate about $9.5 million annually in additional revenue and would barely be noticed by consumers.
As we noted last month, county taxpayers would be justified in protesting any tax increase, but we agree that commissioners should at least have the conversation — and possibly a public hearing — to explore whether county residents are willing to support a modest rate increase in order to dig the county out of its current budget situation. After all, commissioners could make the increase temporary and collect it for — let’s say — one year in order to pay down debt or build reserves.
Although they don’t agree, we respect recent comments from Commissioners Charles Furmon and Don Dixon. “The public (is) insisting on smaller government,” Furmon said. “I agree.”
“Get it right-sized before we just throw money at the problem ... and end up in the same situation again,” Dixon said.
Those words are encouraging because they indicate that commissioners understand and know what must be done. And they also know that Republicans raising taxes in an election year would be a huge political misstep.
If you’re Cindy Carpenter or Butch Hubble, the two candidates who are vying in the November election to replace Jolivette next January, you’re probably hoping that commissioners make the most difficult decisions before the new year rolls around. It’s unfortunate that an extreme economic downturn was necessary to get commissioners concentrating on reducing the size of county government, but we look forward to seeing this focus continue and correct past errors and bad decisions.