CINCINNATI -- Later on Friday, we should learn the size and scope of next year's final Hamilton County budget. We already know it will be considerably smaller than this year.
When the Hamilton County Commissioners meet Friday morning at 9:30 a.m., it is expected they'll approve a proposed budget that's over 12 percent smaller than this year which would make it the smallest budget the county has run on in ten years.
The latest proposed budget comes in at $210 Million which is $61 million less than was spent this year. It's the smallest county budget since 1999.
Among the additional cuts that the commissioners are considering, is 15% less money for juvenile courts. That could cut the number of available juvenile detention beds from 80 to 60.
Local governments may have to pay more for each 911 call handled by county dispatch, and other fees will go up.
The Coroner's Office is expected to have it close its forensic crime lab several days a month, slowing down autopsies and evidence analysis.
However, the Sheriff's Office will get almost $1 million more than previously expected to rehire 10 more deputies, and buy 100 more ankle monitoring bracelets for people under house arrest.
Also the Prosecutor's Office and the Clerk of Courts will get about $500,000 each to continue misdemeanor prosecutors and keep the clerk's court case website operating.
We'll have the commissioners budget decisions, including any possible last minute changes covered for you, here at wcpo.com and later with stories starting on 9News at Noon.
