By Marie McCain
The Cincinnati Enquirer

NEW RICHMOND - Voters in this small southwestern Clermont County village along the Ohio River will decide Tuesday whether they want to pay more taxes or risk cuts in emergency services.

State cuts have eliminated at least $40,000 from New Richmond's budget, money that both the police and fire departments were counting on to maintain operations, officials said.

Police Chief Karl Hassebrockexpects expenses to double, or even triple, by next year because of the increasing costs of communications services.

Voters are being asked to support a 2-mill operating levy for the police department and a separate 1-mill operating levy to for the fire department.

Hassebrock says his department is already operating at the minimum, and without a new levy might have to start cutting back.

"Up until the second week of January we thought there was money in our budget. But the situation now is that the money is just not there," Hassebrock said. "Our operating costs have doubled with communications expenses."

It is too expensive to staff a 24-hour dispatcher, the chief added.

As a result, the village has to turn to the county for those services.

More state funds might be lost as a result of cuts that have trickled down as state leaders attempt to balance the state budget, officials added.

The police department consists of five officers including the chief. There are two part-time officers who split 40 hours a week and four auxiliary officers on staff.

"They are generous with their time; however, I can't schedule them because we don't pay our auxiliaries. They have to make a living, and at least two work second shifts. It's difficult to schedule them for anything other than special events," the chief said.

Mayor Terry Durrette said that without the levy increase, police and fire services would be crippled or ended altogether.

The increases would amount to about $90 a year for the owner of a $100,000 house.

E-mail mmccain@enquirer.com