News Release Sept.

2, 2014
Unprecedented: Auditor Has Now Returned $6 Million
Latest $1.9 Million Giveback Helps Coffers of Local Communities
HAMILTON, Ohio In just over six years as Auditor, Roger Reynolds has now returned $6
million to local governments such as schools, cities, townships, libraries and parks. Instead of
using that money for office operations, it has gone back to build roads, fund police, and directly
benefit local taxpayers.
Reynolds entered office in April 2008 with the aggressive goals of reducing spending, reforming
government processes and returning tax dollars. Those goals are now expectations at the
Auditors Office, where a staff of fewer, more highly-trained professionals is excelling.
We have high expectations, said Reynolds. Were improving our technology, empowering
our staff and seeing the results. Weve come a long way in six years, but change started on Day
1.
Under Reynolds leadership, the Auditors Office has returned surplus real estate fund money to
local governments every year something that was nearly unheard of before he assumed office.
Prior to 2008, there was no surplus for at least 10 years. This years surplus of $1.93 million is
the most it has ever been and equals the entire second half collection. To date, $6.02 million
has been returned. Instead of being spent on overhead costs, that money has gone back into the
levy funds it came out of originally.
The Lakota Local School District is receiving $453,271 in refunded fee money this year,
followed by Butler Countys various levies and the general fund which will receive $293,188
collectively. The Fairfield City School District will also collect more than $200,000 with a
refund of $208,610. Three other entities will be collecting more than $100,000 West Chester
Township, $167,367; Middletown City Schools, $117,957; and Hamilton City Schools,
$111,590.
For calculating and distributing real estate tax collections to local governments, the state
legislature sets the fee that county auditors collect from those levy funds to pay for their
administrative costs.
It would not be possible to run a yearly surplus, and three times return amounts of more than $1
million, without an overhaul of business practices and a fundamental belief in conservative
principles. By 2010, Reynolds had cut office expenditures to a 10-year low and continues to
reduce his general fund budget. In 2011, Reynolds had reduced his office budget by 45 percent
from $6.1 million in 2008 to $3.4 million. The Real Estate budget was running at $4 million
when Reynolds took office and is now consistently running at about $2 million.
Through technology and innovation, however, the office has continued to serve taxpayers at a
high level and meet all statutory obligations.
When someone votes for a tax levy, Im sure they have no idea a small portion of the millage
increase goes toward administering the tax, Reynolds said. By streamlining my office were
doing our part to make sure more of that money stays at the local level whether for schools,
cities, townships, libraries, parks or county agencies.

Fees Returned to Taxing Districts
2nd Half REA Tax Year 2013 Collect 2014

Butler County:

Developmental Disabilities Board $90,490.18
Children Services Agency 60,326.78
County General Fund 57,913.71
Mental Health Board 45,245.09
Senior Citizens 39,212.41
Total Butler County:
$293,188.17


Townships:

West Chester Township 167,366.59
Liberty Township 64,073.72
Fairfield Township 26,675.89
Ross Township 5,865.94
Morgan Township 5,001.00
Madison Township 3,658.37
St Clair Township 3,552.94
Hanover Township 3,474.12
Milford Township 1,809.29
Oxford Township 1,732.86
Reily Township 1,728.86
Wayne Township 1,672.74
Lemon Township 1,233.22
Total Townships:
$287,845.54


School Districts:

Lakota CSD 453,271.40
Fairfield CSD 208,610.28
Middletown CSD 117,957.09
Hamilton CSD 111,590.39
Talawanda CSD 80,910.65
Edgewood CSD 70,764.38
Monroe LSD 45,921.73
Ross LSD 41,021.37
Madison CSD 22,692.72
Princeton CSD 15,141.18
New Miami LSD 4,172.57
Southwest LSD 1,728.71
Mason LSD 758.74
Northwest LSD 293.28
College Corner LSD 281.05
Prebble Shawnee LSD 157.76
Total School Districts:
$1,175,273.30


Villages & Cities:

Hamilton 23,272.78
Monroe 21,323.24
Fairfield 20,314.27
Middletown 16,214.81
Trenton 5,791.25
Oxford 4,119.79
New Miami 573.43
Seven Mile 251.51
Millville 213.45
College Corner 111.50
Somerville 74.46
Jacksonburg 5.73
Total Villages and Cities:
$92,266.22


Joint Vocational Schools:

Butler Tech 48,490.04
Great Oak 1,024.04
Miami Valley 16.71
Total JVS: $49,530.79


Libraries and Parks:

Metroparks
14,289.01
Midpointe Public Library
11,437.99
Lane Public Library
9,648.70
Libraries and Parks:
$35,375.70




GRAND TOTAL FEES RETURNED:

$1,933,479.72





Fees Returned Under Reynolds 2007-2013

BUTLER COUNTY
GENERAL FUND


$187,502.84
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 261,961.77
CHILDRENS SERVICES 193,785.56
SENIOR CITIZENS 128,224.44
MENTAL HEALTH

122,878.85
MIAMI CONSERVANCY 13,310.31


SCHOOLS

$3,903,846.62

MUNICIPALITIES/TOWNSHIPS
GENERAL FUND

$560,092.36
FIRE & EMS 288,003.48
POLICE & EMS

206,453.34
ROAD AND BRIDGE

47,441.96
AMBULANCE & EMS

9,501.45
MISCELLANEOUS

100,234.15

TOTAL


$6,023,237.13