Deputy Patrols In Harrison, Whitewater, Crosby Townships On The Chopping Block

Hamilton County Commissioners are trying to eliminate a $29 million budget deficit.

(Hamilton County, Oh.) - Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office patrols in the western side of the county could be coming to an end.

Hamilton County Commissioners are getting to work on the 2019 county budget. After initially approving then retracting a sales tax increase which would have balanced the budget, the commissioners have to address a $29 million shortfall.

County Administrator Jeff Aluotto’s proposed $237 million spending plan – about $10 million less than 2018’s budget – presented Monday would enact a combination of $21 million in budget cuts and $8 million in new revenue. The deepest cuts would occur at the sheriff’s office, which makes up about a third of the county budget.

The sheriff’s office is proposing the elimination of free deputy patrols in Harrison, Whitewater and Crosby townships. If that happens, the sheriff’s office would still respond to emergency calls from those townships.

The townships may be able to maintain the patrols if they pay for them.

Addiction services at the Hamilton County Justice Center are also on the chopping block. Other county departments are also facing cuts of about eight percent.

The county would create $8 million in new revenue by increasing fees for building permits and upping the cost for communities to use the county 911 service. The fee for property transfers for people selling their homes could increase by one mil, or $100 per $100,000.

Public hearings concerning the proposed budget will be held. Commissioners could vote on the 2019 budget in November or December.

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