By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - The revised 2003 general fund budgets of Butler County Common Pleas Court and the county prosecutor's office are about 3 percent leaner than this year's budgets.

The commissioners and county finance director Tim Williams said they were pleased with reduced budgets the court and prosecutor's office presented Monday.

With federal and state funding cutbacks, rising health care costs and a sluggish economy pressuring county finances, the commissioners have requested county office-holders and department heads to slash their general fund budgets from 2 percent to 6 percent.

The commissioners held six budget hearings Monday with various departments and will hold six more next Monday.

The Common Pleas Court's proposed budget is $4.8 million.

Prosecutor Robin Piper's revised 2003 budget is $3.2 million.He cut the money he originally requested for travel and training, office supplies, contract services and health insurance to meet the commissioners' budget goals.

"We also used grants to try to ease the stress on the general fund," Mr. Piper said.

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com