News
Is your town sticking to its budget?
Last year, The Enquirer asked leaders of Southwest Ohio’s 15 largest communities – including Deerfield Township and Mason – how much they anticipated spending in 2013 and what else residents might expect.
A year later, we found out if they came in on budget and their forecasts for the coming year.
Most report they’re in better shape now than they were a year ago, when communities – particularly townships – were reeling from a series of cuts by the state to local governments. Delhi Township has weathered a 70 percent cut to its general fund – the fund that pays for day-to-day operations – from 2011 to 2013. Other townships saw their revenues slashed by more than half.
For many of these communities the figure includes money that passes through the township to local school districts.
Deerfield Township
• Projected spending: $60,706,249
• Actual spending: $61,944,375
• Difference: $1,238,126 more
Deerfield Township spent about $1.2 million more than it had budget ed last year, but not for any one reason, Fiscal Officer John Wahle said. With passage last fall of a 10-year parks levy, the township will fill three or four park department vacancies this year, said Administrator Bill Becker, who also hopes to open the community’s new $4.9 million fire station in September.
Township residents can also expect the continued widening of Irwin-Simpson Road this year, which will continue into 2016. Otherwise the township is “holding the line,” said Becker. One thing affecting the budget are winter storms, Becker said. Deerfield has already tapped into money earmarked for snow and ice removal for next winter to deal with this winter, Becker said.
Mason
• Projected spending: $74,047,299
• Actual spending: $71,800,000
• Difference: $2,247,299 less
Mason spent less because the community “always underestimates revenues and overestimates spending,” said Mason spokeswoman Jennifer Trepal. But next year Mason plans to increase spending 18 percent over 2013, from $74 million to $87.4 million. The extra funds will restore a parks maintenance program, sets aside money for Mason’s 2015 bicentennial, creates a new position in the service department and reissues some short-term debt to build a $5 million public works garage by next winter.
Anderson Township
• Projected spending: $34,294,549
• Actual spending: $32,936,824
• Difference: $1,357,725 less
Trimming costs where possible last year, Anderson Township’s true savings amounted to about $400,000, according to Fiscal Officer Ken Dietz, because $1 million of its savings represents the cost of a public works project planned for last year but postponed. This year, the community will focus on maintaining fire, police, public works and road services while continuing to seek new residents and businesses. “We are being frugal,” Dietz said. “Increasing the tax base is the way we are going to generate more money.”
There is a handful of residential and commercial projects that continue to be discussed and considered, including a proposed 900-unit Villages of PeterGreen near the ColdStream Country Club and a new racino, Dietz said. Anderson will invest some money this year on development of the community’s waterfront and government campus, he added.
Cincinnati
• Projected spending: $1,471,000,000
• Actual spending: Could not provide
• Difference: Can’t be calculated
A lot has changed in Cincinnati since last year. The city, which has five times as many residents as the second-largest community in the region, has a new mayor, some new council members and an interim city manager, and its priorities have shifted. Last year the plan was to lease the city’s parking assets or lay off more than 300 employees. Neither happened.
On Thursday, Councilman Charlie Winburn, budget committee chairman, released a proposed balanced budget for next year, which in Cincinnati now means July 1 to June 30. Earlier projections showed the city facing an at least $18.5 million deficit, but Winburn has proposed $28 million in cuts, including furloughs or pay cuts for city staff and an estimated 30 to 40 layoffs. City departments would see cuts of 7-10 percent under Winburn’s plan. While police and fire staff wouldn’t be touched, their departments would see a combined cut of more than $12.5 million a year. Winburn has also suggested appointing a business group to study financing the city-owned Southern Railway and Cincinnati Water Works to provide a $300 million revenue stream.
City spokewoman Meg Olberding said the city could not provide actual spending figures for 2013 at this time, because the 2013-2014 fiscal year doesn’t end until June 30.
Colerain Township
• Projected spending: $31,535,878
• Actual spending: $30,222,154
• Difference: $1,313,724 less
Colerain spent $1 million less than it had earlier projected, but much of the savings represent money held over until this year for projects initially budgeted for 2013, including burying utilities at the corner of Springdale Road and Colerain Avenue and constructing a fence and completing landscaping improvements around the Colerain Avenue-Interstate 275 interchange.
Voters will be asked to approve a 1.95 mill police levy in May. “We have stretched our resources as far as they can go,” Administrator James Rowan said. With the loss of 13 sheriff’s deputies in 2012, the township relied on volunteer officers but has added three paid police officers for 2014 and 2015.
Delhi Township
• Projected 2013 spending: $17,499,904
• Actual 2013 spending: $15,654,980
• Difference: $1,844,924 less
Delhi Township was able to shave $1.8 million from its spending, with savings spread across most of its departments. Residents approved a fire levy that should last at least 5 years but turned down a parks levy. Voters will be asked in May to replenish funds for the police department with a 5-year, 2.49-mill police levy that will cost $87 more per $100,000 in home value.
Money will be tight in 2014, said Township Administrator Pete Landrum. The biggest change: how the township budgets its money, he said. Department budgets now include money for IT, maintenance, human resources and accounting. Previously that money had come out of the general fund and hadn’t been tracked as well as it could have been, Landrum said. Another change this year is a reversal on increased shelter and senior center fees. Many communities have increased fees, but the feeling in Delhi is that lower costs will attract more people and ultimately more revenue.
Fairfield
• Projection spending: $63,173,879
• Actual spending: $68,152,994
• Difference: $4,979,115 more
Fairfield spent nearly $5 million more than anticipated to cover the city’s capital improvement program, according to Fiscal Officer Mary Hopton. The city plans to spend about 5.9 percent more in 2014. “Tighter up-front” costs in 2013 and 2014 means it’s “unlikely that the same level … will be added back to the respective funds at the end of 2014,” according to an explanation of the budget on Fairfield’s website.
The community, which offers its residents aquatics and arts centers, a golf course and 300 acres of parks as well as water and sewer service, continues to focus on paying down debt to construct such amenities.
Green Township
• Projected spending: $41,121,125
• Actual spending: $35,590,458
• Difference: $5,530,677 less
Green Township found savings in its earlier budget with a less expensive medical insurance plan for employees, lower costs from the relatively mild weather in 2013 and cuts wherever possible, Administrator Kevin Celarek said. Township police got a boost from voters, who overwhelmingly supported a safety service renewal levy in November. There are two major road projects planned for this year – one on Rybolt Road and the other on Harrison Avenue – whose expenses are to be shared by the township and the state.
Hamilton
• Projected spending: $306,629,578
• Actual spending: $253,000,000*
• Difference: Not calculated because actual spending is estimated.
* Represents spending in all city funds; however, some of the costs to maintain and improve the city’s utilities may not be included. Spending is higher than $253 million but less than $306 million, the best estimate the community could provide in time for publication.
Hamilton avoided the $3.3 million deficit it faced last year, coming in substantially under budget. To do so, it closed a fire station, laid off five firefighters and allowed the Butler County Sheriff’s Office to handle emergency dispatch, doing away with its own dispatch center.
Hamilton spends more than most communities because it is one of the few cities that provides its residents with public utilities, including gas, electricity, water and waste removal, which also bring in revenue. The city continues to focus on renovating its downtown and adding features to existing assets like the cultural center, retail and residential spaces and a riverfront amphitheater.
Liberty Township
• Projected spending: $19,828,557
• Actual spending: $19,868,203
• Difference: $40,000 more
Liberty Township spent about $40,000 more than officials originally anticipated. Last year officials said the township was “in maintenance mode” with no township-led projects or changes in spending planned. Residents will be asked to renew a 5-year, 3 mill police levy in May.
The township led the region with the most new housing permits last year at 255 – nearly double 2012, according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati and township officials. All sorts of permits were up last year, said Administrator Kristin Bitonte.
Miami Township
• Projection spending: $47,321,103
• Actual spending: $32,758,525
• Difference: $14,562,578 less
The township includes money carried over, year to year, in its appropriations, so its actual savings are far smaller than $14.6 million, said Administrator Larry Fronk. In 2013 the township signed a tax increment financing deal with AIM-MRO, which works extensively with GE Aviation and has purchased the former Hill Top Research property to build at least a $3.5 million research facility. The TIF agreement – one of many in the township – will allow Miami Township to finance infrastructure improvements around the property.
Middletown
• Projected spending: $137,873,413
• Actual spending: $124,115,259
• Difference: $13,758,154 less
Middletown spent less, cutting budgets midyear last year, and plan to reduce spending again in 2014 by laying off 21 employees and cutting Community Center, TV Middletown and Keep Middletown Beautiful budgets by 20 percent. The eliminated positions include nine city-paid firefighters, six grant-funded firefighters, four staff members in community revitalization and one in finance. Even then the city is expected to spend $880,000 more than it brings in this year, but cuts in 2014 and 2015 should put the city on track by 2016, according to a budget presentation. The city will focus on $5 million in street improvements and aesthetic upgrades near the entrance to Middletown off of Interstate 75.
Springfield Township
• Projected spending: $21,121,045
• Actual spending: $17,486,385.33
• Difference: $3,634,659.67 less
Springfield Township has spent several months arguing for the creation of a joint economic development zone encompassing the entire township, taxing every employee and business 1.5 percent of their earnings, including schools, parks and in some cases, churches. Trustees say it’s the only way to keep up with township expenses in light of state cuts without slashing public services like police, fire and road maintenance. Voters will be asked to approve the zone in May. Nevertheless, the township continued to trim wherever possible last year, said Administrator Mike Hinnenkamp. Much of the savings is actually attributed to injuries and illness of seven to eight police officers who were paid through worker’s compensation or disability.
Union Township
• Projected spending: $25,943,059
• Actual spending: $67,320,263.87
• Difference: Incalculable
Union Township, the largest community in Clermont County, provided a much higher appropriations figure, explaining the “majority of difference is our long-term debt and the yearly sale of the notes related to the financing of that debt. The state auditors wanted these transactions to be posted in the accounting software and in the appropriations and not just the financial report as I had previously reported it,” said Fiscal Officer Ron Campbell. Requests for further explanations were not returned.
West Chester Township
• Projected spending: $50,351,641*
• Actual spending: $46,141,670
• Difference: $4,209,971 less
* The appropriation figure shared last year was $135,977,821, which included spending capacity from carryover and unspent tax increment financing revenues that were never intended to be spent. The figure was calculated by The Enquirer.
Spending up or down?
How did actual spending among Southwest Ohio’s 15 largest communities compare to their budget forecasts?
Butler County
- Fairfield Increase covered capital improvement program.
- Hamilton Spending estimated, but likely less than projected. Closed fire station, consolidated dispatch.
- Liberty Twp. Experienced strong growth in new housing permits.
- Middletown Employees laid off, including firefighters.
- West Chester Twp. Switched police shifts, changed fire and EMS dispatch, consolidated offices.
Clermont County
- Union Twp. Numbers not comparable because of state-ordered changes to auditing methods.
- Miami Twp. Savings seem larger because of carry-over funds.
Hamilton County
- Anderson Twp. Most savings from postponed public works project.
- Cincinnati Fiscal year ends June 30; actual spending not available.
- Colerain Twp. Much savings from money held for projects postponed until 2014.
- Delhi Twp. Savings came across all departments.
- Green Twp. Saved thanks to mild weather, lower employee insurance costs.
- Springfield Twp. Trustees seeking joint economic development zone.
Warren County
- Deerfield Twp. Parks levy passed, new fire station on track.
- Mason Spending to increase 18 percent in 2014.
Party refuses to endorse 3 GOP lawmakers from SW Ohio
Chrissie Thompson reports:
Three conservative Southwest Ohio legislators failed to get the endorsement of the Ohio Republican Party on Friday – in two cases, because their colleagues in the Ohio House did not recommend them to the party.
The House Republican caucus sent over a list of incumbents for the party’s state central committee to endorse for re-election, party spokesman Chris Schrimpf said.
That list intentionally left out:
• Warren County’s Rep. Ron Maag, R-Salem Township
• Clermont County’s Rep. John Becker, R-Union Township.
A caucus spokesman did not immediately return a call requesting an explanation.
In addition, Warren County’s Rep. Peter Beck, R-Mason, has been indicted on 69 felony counts for fraud and corruption, and party Chairman Matt Borges therefore did not ask for his endorsement, Schrimpf said. Besides the three from Southwest Ohio, Rep. Ron Hood, R-Ashville, also failed to get an endorsement.
Members of the party’s central committee may motion to vote on names for endorsement besides those that were submitted by the House caucus, Schrimpf said, but no one made such a motion.
The Enquirer will update this story.
no comments yetStorm watch: 6-12 inches of snow, sleet headed our way
The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a Winter Storm Watch late Saturday through Monday afternoon for the entire Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region.
A prolonged winter storm expected to bring a messy wintry mix of rain, freezing rain, sleet and more than 6 inches of snow in and around downtown Cincinnati. Areas to the north in Butler and Warren counties could see as much as 9 inches to a foot of snow.
At this point, the heaviest sleet and then snow is expected to blanket the region Sunday night through morning rush hour Monday.
Travel difficulties are likely, especially early Monday, according to the weather service.
Daytime highs will be in the 30s and 40s this weekend with overnight lows in the 20s before falling into the teens Sunday night and most of Monday.
It’s quiet this morning but bitterly cold with a temperature of 12 degrees and a wind chill of minus 1 at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Wind chills will remain at zero or subzero and could fall to minus 10 through mid-morning, the weather service cautions.
If you need to go outside, dress in layers to combat the bitter cold.
Later, the high will make it past the freezing mark to the mid-30s under a mix of clouds and sun.
An inch of snow mixed with a slight chance of rain is in the forecast early Saturday through 3 p.m.
no comments yet