HAMILTON — Butler County postponed on Thursday a planned $2.1 million cutback to 27 social service programs to give its state legislators a chance to lobby for more funding.

        The county commissioners planned to make the cutbacks, which would take effect April 6, because there is an unexpected $2.5 million shortfall in state funds for those problems.

        The commissioners have accused the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services of reneging on a promise made earlier this year to provide the additional $2.5 million. But state officials deny that any promises were made.

        Butler's contingent of state legislators asked the commissioners to postpone cutback decisions until Tuesday.

        The legislators want to make a last-ditch effort to persuade state officials to provide the money for Butler.

        But the legislators and the commissioners don't expect this effort to succeed.

        JoAnn Davidson, interim director of the state agency, has said it would be a bad financial move for her to release any contingency funds to Butler or any other county.

        That leaves commissioners no other option but to make the cuts, according to Commissioners Mike Fox.

        “From everything I see, we're going to have to make the cuts Tuesday night,” he said.

        The 27 social service contracts with local agencies and schools would have expired at the end of June. Some of them would have been renewed for the next fiscal year, beginning July 1.

        Many of the programs help low-income people stay off welfare.

        “Unfortunately, it will really have an impact on a lot of low-income families that depend on services from these different agencies,” Mr. Fox said.

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