Have something to say?
You can make a comment about this story — and other stories — at Journal-News.com, MiddletownJournal.com, OxfordPress.com on Facebook, Fairfield-Echo.com or PulseJournal.com on Facebook.
HAMILTON – Butler County will not have an increase in its sales tax — at least for now.
The majority of the commissioners have decided via telephone calls with Administrator Bruce Jewett not to pursue a 0.25 percent increase in the sales tax that was expected to alleviate the projected deficit in the proposed 2011 budget.
The County Commission will look at making cuts to fill the gap — ones that outgoing Commissioner Greg Jolivette said will force the commission to make “some tough decisions within the near future.”
The county is facing a $7 million deficit in the 2011 proposed budget. The sales tax increase — which would put it at 6.5 percent and equal to Hamilton, Clermont and Warren counties — appeared to be the primary option to avoid severe, deep cuts.
Jolivette said he would have liked at least to have had public hearings on the proposed tax increase. He said the county received a number of e-mails, a majority from tea party supporters, opposing the proposed tax increase.
“It’s a burden on the commission to make our citizens more knowledgeable on the county’s finances,” he said. “Going through the public hearings would have allowed us to educate the tea party people to where we were and where we’re going in regards to the county’s finances.”
Jolivette said he isn’t sure how he actually would vote on the sales tax increase, but wanted to see where the public stood.
Jolivette said without an increase, the county will not have any reserves or the ability to pay down debt. He also said it’s not out of the question to expect another economic downturn.
“Without a significant upturn in the economy’s future, the county’s in a long, long haul without added revenues,” he said. “The county may have no place to go but to curtail the services people have come to expect.”
Commissioner Chuck Furmon said he couldn’t say much on what more the board will do about the anticipated budget deficit.
“I think we’re just going to look at other possibilities,” he said. “That’s all I can say right now.”
Commissioner Don Dixon could not be reached for comment.
Butler County Commissioner-elect Cindy Carpenter, who will take Jolivette’s seat in January, said she hasn’t been involved in discussions about the sales tax issue.
It’s expected the commission will approve a budget in January, then evaluate cuts as it moves forward into the new year.
About the Author
