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Sheriff tells county he’s done cutting

Citing safety concerns and other cuts, Sims puts his foot down on the budget.

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By Denise G. Callahan, Staff Writer 3:26 PM Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Warren County sheriff to commissioners: If you want more cuts, you’ll have to make them.

The commissioners have directed all office holders and department heads to trim 5 percent from 2009 spending levels for the 2010 budget. Sheriff Larry Sims needs to cut another $251,000 from his $15.5 million budget to reach the full 5 percent.

Commissioner Pat South said they don’t want to micromanage and have asked everyone to cut where they see fit. Sims said he disagrees with the across-the-board cut and won’t ask the union to make concessions.

“I decided I wasn’t making the rest of those cuts,” Sims said. “If the commissioners see fit that they need to make those cuts, then they can make them.”

Commissioner Dave Young said he doesn’t want to cut deputies, but he hopes they can at least negotiate, given the dire financial future. He predicts the state will cut around $3 million in local funding to the county in two years.

“These 5 percent cuts we’re talking about now, are going to be literally nothing compared to what’s coming down the pike,” he said. “Because the state is so screwed up.”

Justice center crowded

Likewise, the people who work in the judicial center are feeling the squeeze of the tight budget. The commissioners have put the $13-million expansion of the center on hold. Initially, the project was supposed to add 150,000-square-feet for $31 million. Commissioners earlier this year sliced that project in half, but now it’s on hold indefinitely.

Legally, the judges could force the commissioners to build the expansion, however Common Pleas Judge James Flannery said he and his fellow judges won’t act hastily. However, he said court personnel have been telling commissioners for years they have run out of room.

“They have ignored the lack of space for too long. The people down there in the communications department are working in atrocious conditions, the county court is overcrowded, we’ve got people working in a trailer and in hallways, we’re just bursting at the seams,” he said. “Just because the economy is bad, the court doesn’t slow, in fact it maybe speeds up a little.”

Young said he wants to build the expansion, but now is not the time. He said they may have to consider moving one or more departments to an off-site location to ease the crowding. The county moved the community corrections and pretrial services to a trailer in the sheriff’s parking lot. There is only a keypad protecting the workers, so if someone brought a weapon, there are no metal detectors to alert anyone. Young said they can solve that safety concern by getting a hand-held metal detecting wand.

However, the expansion is not just about current conditions. Flannery said with growth and the opening of the new outlet mall in Monroe — car thefts, credit card misuse, tenant issues and other cases associated with malls will rise — the case loads are growing by leaps and bounds. According to caseload reports collected by the Ohio Supreme Court, the common pleas court’s per judge 2008 caseload was 1,386, above the 2004 level of 1,346, when the General Assembly approved adding a third bench in the county. The county hasn’t asked for a fourth judge — they don’t have the room.

Young said they have discussed that issue and they can consider holding night court in the interim.

“There are all sorts of more efficient ways to use that space,” he said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.

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TO "THE TRUTH": I agree. There are a lot of people at the County who "retire" and come back 3 months later to the same position. While I don't have a problem with people working, I would suggest that these folks be reinstated at lower salaries and NO HEALTH BENEFITS. Health benefits are extremely expensive. If a retired person is eligible for benefits through retirement or SS or Medicare then the County shouldn't provide them benefits. Too expensive.

DLC
1:31 PM, 11/14/2009

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If the county needs too trim budget then get rid of these people who retired from the county and then are hired back. If these positions are really necessary (and most are not...they just happen to have the connections in the Warren County Good Ole Boy Network) then give these jobs to those who really need it and in most cases are more qualified. The GOB network is slowy starting to fall but lets speed up the process and get some fresh minds and talent working where it will benefit all of us.

the truth
6:28 PM, 11/12/2009

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So Little Miami is putting a levy on the ballot in Feb. Perhaps the powers that be in this district should disclose the thousands of dollars this will cost to hold a special election....and they say they are out of money? HAH! For you morons that do not understand it the school district will be footing the bill for any special election. Where is that money coming from?

the truth
5:58 PM, 11/12/2009

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These are indeed tough choices. The unions need to wake up and make necessary concessions so that the people they are representing do not lose their jobs. The 50% cut mentioned by a poster above is a little high but how about elected officials, commisioners included taking a 5% cut. Them taking a cut and the union allowing no 3% increase should take care of the budget. Hmmm, but that would be too simple wouldn't it!

Dennis
10:20 AM, 11/12/2009

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Here's a suggestion. Why don't the judges, commissioners and other so called "top" wage earners in government give back 50% of their inflated paychecks?? We could do all the building we need, pay cash, and still have money left over. Middle class real working folks have had enough of these types wasting money. Our savings, pensions and the public treasury are being looted. Enough already.

Roger Staton
7:19 AM, 11/12/2009

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