HAMILTON — The financially strapped Butler County Regional Transit Authority wants to receive one-third of the revenues from a proposed half-cent county sales tax increase.

        Transit authority officials asked county commissioners Monday to pledge one-third of the $16 million a year that would be generated by the tax increase to public transit.

        Commissioners said they will consider the request. The county plans to place a sales tax increase on the November ballot for major road projects and other improvements designed to boost economic development.

        “As we proceed on the sales tax proposal, this will be a part of what is discussed,” Commissioner Courtney Combs said.

        Two defeats last year of a proposed quarter-percent sales tax increase for public transit plunged the transit authority into a financial crisis.

        In the past year, the agency has eliminated some of its fixed routes and cut Dial-a-Ride, a curb-to-curb, on-demand service.

        For $5 million a year in sales tax revenues, the transit authority could restore Dial-a-Ride service and the fixed routes.

        Ken Reed, the agency's acting general manager, said the sales tax revenue would enable the transit authority to add fixed routes from Hamilton to Mercy Hospital Fairfield and the Forest Fair Mall; through Millville to Oxford; and through New Miami and Trenton to Miami University's Middletown campus.

        The transit authority's two attempts to pass a sales tax increase last year were damaged by having to ask for more than it needed. The state allows sales tax increases in increments of a quarter-percent.

        So the transit authority had to ask for a quarter-percent increase when it needed one-sixth of a percent increase.

        Sterling Uhler, a transit authority board member, thinks the public transit component would help commissioners win voter approval of their sales tax increase.

        The current sales tax in Butler County is 5.5 percent. A half-cent increase would bring it to 6 percent.

        The proposed public transit sales tax increase was defeated 55 percent to 45 percent in May of last year and 52 percent to 48 percent last November.

Allegiances divisive, even far from Mideast
Vote on ordaining gays has nationwide implications
Boats sink, 2 men missing
Former Democratic chairman testifies at Conese fund trial
Mega Millions game gets go-ahead
Teen effort to salute soldier may be model
West Chester looks at services for growing group
Some Good News
PULFER: Law lagging
RADEL: Welcome mat?
Bus firm wants to ride on tax
Local team returns to TV
Airport suspect talkative in court
Jealousy may be why woman slain, police say
Prosecutors look over files
Smokers, businesses may be hit up
Walk will raise funds for hospital
City schools keep panel to advise on work contracts
Consultant to continue work in Mason
Lakota district hires principal for new elementary school
Man accused of spraying toxin on trooper
Private colleges see enrollment tightening
Tristate A.M. Report
Judge rejects no-sex condition for deadbeat dad
Ky. expects to see economic benefit
Louisville Archdiocese sees 11 more suits filed
Principal aims for state honor
Kentucky A.M. Report