Hamilton County

Impact of Ohio’s 2012-13 state budget (HB 153)

Ohio’s budget for 2012 and 2013 cut local government aid by a billion dollars. This means cuts in services we depend on, from road repair and emergency services to crossing guards, senior transportation and child protective services.  What are the implications for Hamilton County? 

The state cut the Local Government Fund to the county, forcing Hamilton County to make cuts to jurisdictions within the county. The state also cut direct funding to municipalities, and slashed reimbursements for taxes it had eliminated, taxes that businesses and utilities had paid to local governments. School districts and the public library fund were also cut. Losses in calendar years 2012 and 2013, compared to 2010 and 2011, include, among others:

• Public Library Fund…………………… -$3.3 million
• Schools………………………………….. -$117.4 million
• County operations……………………. -$79.3 million           (includes LGF for townships and parks)
• Anderson Township…………………. -$1.1 million
• Colerain Township………………….. -$1.6 million
• Cincinnati…………………………….. -$40.7 million
• Blue Ash………………………………. -$1.7 million
• Forest Park……………………………. -$1.3 million
• Loveland……………………………….. -$474.0 thousand
• Norwood……………………………….. -$1.9 million
• St. Bernard…………………………….. -$1.7 million
• Wyoming………………………………. -$335.0 thousand
• Anderson Park District……………….. -$148.0 thousand
• Hamilton County Park District………. -$1.5 million
• Little Miami Joint Fire and Rescue….. -$70.0 thousand
• Western Joint Ambulance District…… -$70.0 thousand

Loss to health and human service levies

• County health services……………………………………. -$7.3 million
• County child services……………………………………… -$4.6 million
• County mental health/developmental disabilities……… -$9.5 million
• County seniors’ services…………………………………. -$1.7 million

Notes and quotes

“We have to be much more careful in separating needs from wants. We can’t meet the desires of our residents the way we would like to.”