HAMILTON — The Butler County commissioners want to be able to use revenue from the proposed sales tax increase to offset reductions in federal and state funding for mandated projects.

        Until the latest revision of the proposed increase was announced Thursday, the commissioners had stressed that its revenue would be spent on specified capital improvement projects only.

        “We want to have the flexibility to offset reductions in funding for federal or state mandates,” Commissioner Mike Fox said.

        But this new wrinkle raised red flags for sales-tax critic, George Gordon III.

        “This is little more than a shell game,” said Mr. Gordon, a Hamilton resident who has closely followed the development of the sales tax proposal. “None of the sales tax money should be transferred to the general fund for any reason.”

        Mr. Gordon said he supports the projects on the list, but believes Butler residents should be given a chance to vote on the tax increase. He said if the revenue isn't restricted to capital improvement projects, he will participate in an effort to place the issue on the ballot in hopes of defeating it.

        Mr. Fox said this change in the revenue's restrictions doesn't mean the county would use the money to bolster its operating funds.

        The revenue would go into two special accounts so that spending can be easily tracked, he said.

        The commissioners might vote on the increase at their next meeting, scheduled for Dec. 13.

        The proposal calls for a half-cent increase for six years and a reduction to a quarter-cent increase for four years. That would generate $129 million for 34 projects, including major road construction.

        Many projects on the sales tax funding list might be delayed or never materialize if state and federal funding doesn't come through, Mr. Fox said.

        The commissioners added to the list $12 million for an emergency communications system and $1.1 million to the Butler County Regional Transit Authority for curb-to-curb transportation for the poor, the elderly and the disabled.

        The commissioners removed $1.2 million for road improvements in connection with a proposed interchange at Interstate 75 and Greentree Road.

        A fiber-optics network for Hamilton also was removed because the city found alternate ways to fund it.

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