Unfortunately, the tough news continues when it comes to our revenues.
We received our June sales tax results yesterday, which represents March sales activity (which may have been the low point of the economy, if the general media discussion is any barometer). Our June receipts were down 8% compared to the same month in 2008--a steep fall, but at least higher than the 10% fall we saw in May. State-wide, sales tax receipts were down 10% for June.
Because we have been erring on the side of the caution, we had already assumed a 10% reduction for June because of the 10% reduction realized in May, which prompted the cuts we made last months across departments.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Nominate A Local Civil Rights Pioneer
On June 20, Great American Ballpark will play host to the Major League Baseball Civil Rights Game (Reds versus White Sox). A number of national dignitaries will be present and honored during the day's events.
We at Hamilton County decided to take it a step further, and also recognize and honor five local Civil Rights pioneers at the same time.
To do so, we are asking for nominations from the community. Please go to this link to make your nomination. And please be sure to do so by this Wednesday, June 10, at 5:00 p.m.
A selection committee will announce the honorees on June 17.
We at Hamilton County decided to take it a step further, and also recognize and honor five local Civil Rights pioneers at the same time.
To do so, we are asking for nominations from the community. Please go to this link to make your nomination. And please be sure to do so by this Wednesday, June 10, at 5:00 p.m.
A selection committee will announce the honorees on June 17.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
The Long-Term "Savings" of Prevention
After I posted a story (An Ounce of Prevention) early this week on investments we are making with federal stimulus dollars, in employment, job and job skills training for high-risk youth, I was sent a fascinating article by a friend of mine in the criminal justice world.
It is a detailed analysis of the "monetary value" of "saving" a high-risk youth from becoming a career criminal. The full article can be accessed here.
Let me be clear. The most important reasons to do all we can to keep high-risk youth from becoming career criminals go way beyond dollars and cents. It is to allow our young people to lead fulfilling, productive lives--and to prevent criminal acts against fellow citizens in our community.
But when measured in dollars and cents, this article makes it clear just what a good investment effective prevention is. Every high risk youth we "save" from a criminal path through effective prevention and intervention saves between $3.2 million and $5.7 million for the lifetime costs the community would have incurred if that young person had become a career criminal. We see substantial savings when we also prevent heavy drug use ($1.15M-$1.3M) and drop-outs ($675k-$1M).
I ran for the Commission seat arguing that I wanted to hold those who commit crimes accountable while also addressing the root causes of crime, after my opponent proudly stated he was "not a root cause guy." Not only is prevention the right thing to do, but it turns out, it also is the most fiscally prudent approach.
It is a detailed analysis of the "monetary value" of "saving" a high-risk youth from becoming a career criminal. The full article can be accessed here.
Let me be clear. The most important reasons to do all we can to keep high-risk youth from becoming career criminals go way beyond dollars and cents. It is to allow our young people to lead fulfilling, productive lives--and to prevent criminal acts against fellow citizens in our community.
But when measured in dollars and cents, this article makes it clear just what a good investment effective prevention is. Every high risk youth we "save" from a criminal path through effective prevention and intervention saves between $3.2 million and $5.7 million for the lifetime costs the community would have incurred if that young person had become a career criminal. We see substantial savings when we also prevent heavy drug use ($1.15M-$1.3M) and drop-outs ($675k-$1M).
I ran for the Commission seat arguing that I wanted to hold those who commit crimes accountable while also addressing the root causes of crime, after my opponent proudly stated he was "not a root cause guy." Not only is prevention the right thing to do, but it turns out, it also is the most fiscally prudent approach.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Friday Lunch, Fountain Square
Not an empty seat in the Square (ok -- maybe there's one next to the guy who's relaxing in the sun).
Jails Opening, Jails Closing: There Has To Be A Regional Solution
Today's headlines are all about jails. One's being built (Kenton County). Others are underutilized or are now sitting empty (Butler County). Other places, like Hamilton County, are running short on jailspace. Campbell County is looking to rent space to others.
I've had the discussion before, but like other government "services," some mechanism for sharing jailspace and jail capacity among all these regional entities has to be part of the long-term solution. From a 30,000-foot level, the current situation just doesn't make sense. And the taxpayer is paying for it all.
I will pursue this further and keep you posted.
I've had the discussion before, but like other government "services," some mechanism for sharing jailspace and jail capacity among all these regional entities has to be part of the long-term solution. From a 30,000-foot level, the current situation just doesn't make sense. And the taxpayer is paying for it all.
I will pursue this further and keep you posted.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
In Our Tough Economy, Help is a Click Away
The economy continues to struggle, and so do many of our families.
I want to remind people that there is help out there, whether it's how to reduce costs on everything from prescription drugs to energy to child care, or avoid a foreclosure, or find access to job training and jobs.
You can find all these resources at a website we set up several months ago. Just go to http://www.hamiltoncountyfamilies.com/.
You can find all these resources at a website we set up several months ago. Just go to http://www.hamiltoncountyfamilies.com/.
60 New "Green" Schoolbuses for County School Districts
I was excited yesterday to join the EPA Administrator, Lisa Jackson, in announcing a $1 million grant award for our Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services.
Working with seven school districts across the county, this grant, leveraging $3 million being invested by the school districts themselves, will build upon years of work to make our collective school bus fleet "green." Specifically, this grant will lead to the purchase of 60 new clean diesel schoolbuses, removing 15,000 pounds of contaminants from our air annually.
The Southwest Ohio Clean Diesel Campaign was started by Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services in 2004 after we received our first grant from EPA, and has already retrofitted 460 district-owned school buses with clean diesel technology, removing an estimated 28,000 pounds of air pollutants annually.
For stories on the announcement, go here and here.
Working with seven school districts across the county, this grant, leveraging $3 million being invested by the school districts themselves, will build upon years of work to make our collective school bus fleet "green." Specifically, this grant will lead to the purchase of 60 new clean diesel schoolbuses, removing 15,000 pounds of contaminants from our air annually.
The Southwest Ohio Clean Diesel Campaign was started by Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services in 2004 after we received our first grant from EPA, and has already retrofitted 460 district-owned school buses with clean diesel technology, removing an estimated 28,000 pounds of air pollutants annually.
For stories on the announcement, go here and here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
