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“I think we’re onto something big,” Commission President Chuck Weber. “I think each of us all the time we should try to think of another way to reach another veteran. I have already found one-at-a-time is just as good as any mass outreach you make, because if you can get somebody to come in here, odds are they are going to get help.”
The commission is partnering this year with the Warren County veterans board on a large, multimedia advertising effort.
In December the veterans board approved a deal where each county contributes about $50,000 to run ads on 700 WLW talk radio and several Cumulus radio stations. Butler also agreed to buy time on 55WKRC and with the Journal-News for a total buy of $81,834.
RELATED: Veterans commissions partner on ad buy
The commissioners also approved the 2016 annual report that outlines the various outreach activities the office did last year and gives a comprehensive financial look into how tax dollars were spent. The board is responsible for helping the estimated 27,000 veterans living in the county.
While the board is not affiliated with the Veterans Administration — it is an arm of county government — as many mistakenly think, it offers a plethora of services like doling out emergency cash, helping veterans navigate the Veterans Administration system, arranging and paying for transportation to medical appointments and finding local services for everything from legal issues to marriage counseling.
The state legislature carved a portion out of each county’s general fund millage out for veterans and the Butler board has about $3.4 million to spend each year. Their budgets are usually in the $2 million range so the remainder stays in the general fund. According to the annual report, last year the commission only spent about $1.7 million so $303,957 was turned back to the county coffers.
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Commissioner Tom Jeffers said he is proud of the way the board stewards taxpayer dollars.
“We like to stay within our budget and I feel we do an excellent job at that,” Jeffers said, but added he thinks they will be closer to spending their whole budget this year since they reopened and furnished the Middletown office.
The report shows the largest portion of the budget, 49 percent, are direct veteran expenditures, another 45 percent is spent on personnel, four percent went to outreach and advertising and two percent was for office operations.
2016 VETERANS EXPENDITURES
Burials: $21,000
Food/Hygiene: $105,077
Housing: $220,692
Medical: $19,731
Medical Transportation: $279,570
Miscellaneous/Clothing: $10,059
Transportation: $75,315
Utilities: $93,929
Total: $825,373
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