Marvin Jones, president and CEO of the chamber, had the unique opportunity in April 2011 to testify in front of the Ohio House of Representatives Finance and Appropriations Committee as it put together the state’s next biennial budget. The topic for this hearing was shared services. Rep. John Carey of Wellston is vice chairman of the committee while Rep. Bob Peterson is a member. Both represent a portion of Ross County. He was one of 55 scheduled to testify, including the Ohio Municipal League and the Ohio County Commissioners Association. Here is the prepared statement he read that was followed by about five minutes of answering questions:
“Chairman Amstutz, Vice Chair Carey and honorable members of the committee:
“To cover a $2 million budget hole, the city of Chillicothe in the past nine months laid off about 30 employees, including police officers and firefighters. It doesn’t plan to pave any streets or alleys this year. Our municipal swimming pool will not be available to thousands of our children. It is taking half the money designated to buy new cruisers, fire trucks and other equipment for our safety forces to pay for salaries and benefits of the remaining police and firefighters. The city is using a technicality to ‘save’ $400,000 by not paying the Ross County sheriff to house its prisoners.
 “Our chamber of commerce suggested to City Council last fall that it seriously explore the possibility of contracting with the Ross County Sheriff for law enforcement coverage. This was after voters turned down a request to increase the income tax specifically for safety forces. The city stands to save anywhere from $500,000 to $2 million a year without reducing the level of service to the citizens of Chillicothe.
“The city took the first step to making this a real possibility about 30 years ago. The city and county built a combined new law enforcement center next to our courthouse that has shared quarters for the officers and deputies. They work side by side every hour of every day. Now, it’s time to explore a merger.
“But, maybe what Chillicothe and other cities in the state need is an incentive. It shouldn’t take an incentive for cities to save millions of dollars, but helping them with transition costs such as repainting cruisers, new uniforms and the other changes that would need to be made could be the ticket.
“You might also consider another carrot in the distribution of the local government funds by rewarding communities that demonstrate they are serious about sharing services and a stick for those that dig in their heels.
“Combining police and sheriff departments is not without precedent in Ohio and the U.S. Large metropolitan areas such as Louisville, Jacksonville, Indianapolis and Los Angeles have had combined departments for years. In Ohio, the city of Coshocton 20 years ago contracted with the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Department and it continues to work well today. Cincinnati is studying the possibility.
“Another potential for smaller communities such as Chillicothe would be exploration of forming a joint fire district with its contiguous townships. In the last five years, Chillicothe has averaged only six fires in which there was more than $10,000 in property damage, yet it cost the city $4.2 million in 2009 for its fire department. The townships continue to ask their residents for tax money to fund their operations. An efficient, well thought out system might provide better response times, compatible equipment, fewer fire trucks and a savings in tax dollars.
“Our county’s Job and Family Services Department recently found a way to combine some functions with three neighboring counties. The result will be no reduction in services to those who need them, and a savings in tax dollars. That type of initiative and forward thinking needs to be recognized and rewarded.
“As you put together the state’s next budget, we hope you will look for the myriad ways to do just that. The Third Frontier Fund was a way to incentivize the growth in technology-related jobs. A similar approach, but without the extra indebtedness, might be what it takes to move our local governments to change the way they approach serving their citizens while maintaining or enhancing the programs the citizens deserve and expect.” |
