Tuesday, May 11, 1999
Butler looks for money to operate jail
New facility may need tax
BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — Butler County can build a jail without increasing taxes, but it won't be able to operate it for very long without a tax hike.
That's the opinion of county officials after considering the estimated $11.2 million annual operating cost and debt service of the new jail at its full capacity of 412 inmates.
“When you look at the numbers, you see the need for additional revenue,” Commissioner Mike Fox said Monday.
The jail will cost $35 million to build at the former Deuscher foundry site on Hanover Street in Hamilton, the location favored by all three commissioners. The state already has agreed to contribute $10 million to the project.
Butler has the revenue to pay that cost, but it lacks the money for annual operating costs and debt service, Commissioner Courtney Combs said. It would be impossible to raise that money by cutting other areas of the county budget, the commissioners said.
“We have to look at other options,” Tim Williams, county finance director, told the commissioners Monday.
“That means taxes,” Mr. Combs said.
The commissioners said they cannot predict when they will need to seek a tax increase.
It costs $3.5 million a year to operate the existing jail, which often has at least 180 inmates.
At its 412-inmate capacity, the new jail's total annual operating cost and debt service would rise to about $11.2 million, Mr. Williams said.
“We have a lot of unknown factors right now,” Mr. Fox said.
No one can predict how soon the jail population would reach capacity, he said.
The recent failure of the Butler County Children Services 2.4-mill levy could place additional financial pressure on the county budget.
The Children Services Board, whose 2-mill levy expires at the end of the year, expects to place another levy on the November ballot. If that fails, the commissioners would have to pay for all state-mandated children's services. County officials don't know yet how much that would be.
Last November, county voters overwhelmingly rejected a sales tax increase to build a jail. But some residents said Monday that they might support a tax increase.
“I'd be for it if it was for a small amount,” said Michelle Grubb of Hamilton.
Her husband, Ed Grubb, agreed: “They need the money,” he said. “The jail is overpopulated.”
Julia Conrad of Fairfield Township favors a tax increase to operate the jail. “A lot of times, they're letting guys out of jail because they don't have room.”
Phyllis Buschelman of Hamilton also voiced support for a tax increase. “There's a definite need,” she said.
After a long search for a jail site, commissioners are expected to approve the Deuscher site next week.
A county consultant's study revealed that building a jail at the Deuscher site would cost $7.4 million less than to build it in downtown Hamilton.
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