Tuesday, December 28, 1999
Butler board OKs hike in 2000 budget
BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — The Butler County commissioners Monday approved a $57.2 million general fund budget for next year, a 1.3 percent increase over this year's.
County officials predict a general fund balance of $13.1 million at the end of 2000, about the same amount they expect at the end of this year.
“We tried to keep pressure on the budget process this year to contain expenditures,” Commissioner Mike Fox said.
Of the general fund expenses in 2000, 59.6 percent will go to the justice system, 38.7 percent to administration and 1.7 percent to public assistance.
Commissioner Courtney Combs said it was a special challenge to hold down ex penses in the 2000 budget because the economy is so healthy. “In good economic times, people want to spend our money,” he said.
The three commissioners, all Republicans, said no political opponents offered suggestions during the process leading to the development of the proposed 2000 budget.
The commissioners expect to increase the county sales tax by 0.25 percentage point in the first half of next year.
The estimated $6.5 million that would be generated each year by the sales tax increase would help pay the annual operating cost of the planned county jail that is to open in two to three years.
The $35 million jail, to be built on Hanover Street in Hamilton, will cost about $9 million a year to operate.
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