[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5984659,"mediaKeyId","5762485-79cf230607693cc167c3bb34244b8856","parentId",5762485,"title","Residents urge humane alternatives to ICE detentions; commissioners and staff respond","audioSeconds",796,"startMs",5976000,"endMs",6772000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5762485-79cf230607693cc167c3bb34244b8856&start=5976&end=6772","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5762485-79cf230607693cc167c3bb34244b8856/thumbnail_5976000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5984659/Butler-County/Ohio/Residents-urge-humane-alternatives-to-ICE-detentions-commissioners-and-staff-respond","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5984659-9b0ff54084594b41e3ab9f3f7fc99de9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447535&Signature=aMss4IAx0B24LjXuxeTKmbtF7zV8CunOIqFSQyYWLMSpmsEvVijFqoMxej2FKyzi0kRfWfiFNBFl3NppgrEWlTGlXlw-XfBJJh3fyZZEfHECntML~-Boc8tQMr1~50IxOspCA6lEL8Wa8ah4eL5iL8hOd6lFuQwYqwGmM0AJOgN3L9Nwm32sAb~cfpQwcA3KP5tXEOZup-EpP9b9uIOZLXu4qUj2p~ouX-XfwYIE9Hn5MNMwAzOYh7stL-w93wV1JVX3Qu2v6582Fa8ZM8mdv2wR1LMsLZQLil4GtIdDEOXegEhSJrCvq6qlUTkQTSi93K56sgdJ3OL4hiCewoTWnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Butler County OH","date","2025-09-16T00:00:00Z","article","Multiple Butler County residents used the meeting's public comment period to urge county leaders to limit or change local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and to seek alternatives to detaining immigrants locally.

Speakers including Barb Adams, Dr. Linda Snow Griffin, Linda Spurrier, Anne Brown, Steve Holmquist, Karen Albrecht and Anne Janssen described concerns that enforcement actions were driving immigrants and families into fear, harming neighborhood commerce and separating families. They urged the county to ensure due process and humane treatment and suggested using local resources to provide shelter, services or alternatives to detention.

Speakers frequently referenced recent comments by the county prosecutor and the sheriff's policies. Some speakers said last week's prosecutor remarks made enforcement appear inevitable; others urged the board to resist what they described as inhumane practices. One speaker, Karen Albrecht, recounted a news report of an asylum‑seeking family whose mother died after deportation and said detainees in the county jail have individual stories.

Commissioners responded by saying that the board has sought information on detainee care and that the county has looked into the quality of care for people detained locally. Commissioner Rogers noted the county routinely provides social services and supportive housing programs and said the board routinely considers the needs of vulnerable residents. Commissioner Dixon said some detainees were not arrested because of immigration status but were in custody for other violations and later found to be non‑citizens.

The meeting record shows no change to existing county policies or contracts with federal agencies; public comments were received and the board discussed the concerns but did not take immediate formal action during the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle"," Butler County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting - 09/16/2025","oneSentenceSummary","During the public comment period, multiple Butler County residents urged commissioners to seek humane approaches and due process for people detained under federal immigration enforcement and to limit local detention cooperation.","taxTitle","Butler County, Ohio","taxId",4032,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5984663,"Butler County accepts SEPCO health insurance renewal; county's increase projected at 2% for 2026",81,5002000,5083000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5762485-79cf230607693cc167c3bb34244b8856&start=5002&end=5083","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5762485-79cf230607693cc167c3bb34244b8856/thumbnail_5002000.jpg","/articles/5984663/Butler-County/Ohio/Butler-County-accepts-SEPCO-health-insurance-renewal-countys-increase-projected-at-2-for-2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5984663-ce5ab69aac3caaa5e0c3ac5726ae6608/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447535&Signature=mEwCe1t66JEgcuBzkEvs4Jg7~fUZsxwz45SNJO~tjKG3QvmTCCPMe~QGF2otFbD32wqW6EfKbIDb3Yurx5YfIIyDUi0VBsTif3Fwe13tnERar95zmWUhsPPibs~Xl3ZMrlpGpUm6wSGqDxqxvEqIxv-E85IJ2tBg4TQrpeqArKI8g68BUrp0c20IeOjkXCmXRkvdlJHq2yQi2A65CEup0hZ5dSUTYDVvv8zYP0Z67mVhpBHjUvkktvm3WSkPTr-eXqXdvDAGfvjHANz5Y7DSmx~fQ93ekCyhBwXbNyLLqH5HVqaL0s2UvKmkPCp~72lVWpPR95WqdV2kT2uVmjz0fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Butler County commissioners accepted a renewal from the County Employee Benefits Consortium of Ohio (SEPCO) for the county's employee health benefits plan for plan year Jan. 1'Dec. 31, 2026. Finance director Dave McCormick and county staff said the county's increase is 2% for 2026, which they noted was at the low end of increases among pool members.

McCormick said the 2% increase equates to an estimated $440,000 additional premium cost for the county overall. The SEPCO pool reported increases across members ranging from about 2% to 18%; Butler County is on the low end because of favorable utilization and the county's enrollment and plan design choices. The board noted that 2026 will be the final year of the current three‑year contract and that staff will run a competitive procurement (RFP) for health benefits for subsequent years.

Commissioners discussed plan design and enrollment and asked that staff return with details on how the increase will be applied across plans and employee contributions before finalizing enrollment materials.","The commissioners accepted the County Employee Benefits Consortium of Ohio (SEPCO) renewal for plan year 2026. The county's projected premium increase is 2%, about $440,000, one of the lower increases reported in the pool this year.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5984667,"Commissioners award site‑work and inspection contracts for Princeton Road 911 and coroner campus; $2.97M bid plus contingencies",174,5286000,5460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5762485-79cf230607693cc167c3bb34244b8856&start=5286&end=5460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5762485-79cf230607693cc167c3bb34244b8856/thumbnail_5286000.jpg","/articles/5984667/Butler-County/Ohio/Commissioners-award-sitework-and-inspection-contracts-for-Princeton-Road-911-and-coroner-campus-297M-bid-plus-contingencies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5984667-6c29ad11ff3d093c3a5781cc3cac75c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447536&Signature=GWNpRCUAw4kqe~dVNZ4eZ8Urce9YCtSLlh6awIbqKhbPUSqm5r1G3J10CU-Q5IYzWwSSiNLo8tAUt9E~zCY2SD370dV8IarWlEoiNgIxET6JQgSHkHe9L~mKFzrpK9FHW0~Pg-V~wK18aSWH4PlGkyxq~IG2OU5WZUvNXdFeZTNu5YnYPZ4OqjnF04RgCCa~BiV6SvQEMrlS0lPWDnJzIa46OV1slOYa6w1pyqvdT5z2P4qgxX0GF4wPmRzM5NfIvMPuMAL~RMS4eUmbH-yVV~cwmQpoGQ7nq74iVdkIZCMBc2W9Lb9ny2~iGQ1y6-SAIl17v5WUBWy4tkPCXKlO3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Butler County commissioners approved contract awards to begin construction work on the Princeton Road public safety campus, a project that will house the county's 911 dispatch center, coroner facilities and related administrative space.

The board authorized a professional services contract with Professional Services Industries for special inspections, construction materials testing and observation services for the Butler County 911 and coroner facility at a bid award of $41,610.19; staff asked for a 3.6% contingency for emergent needs. Commissioners also approved the award of the site work bid to Sonesis Construction Company in an amount not to exceed $2,970,000 and authorized a 5% construction contingency to cover unforeseen site conditions.

County staff said standard checks and approvals are required for change orders, including justification, field inspection, architect review and state project manager (Turner) review, and that the contingency is budgetary rather than guaranteed spending. The contract covers site utilities, asphalt paving, concrete and related site construction for the first bid package. Work will proceed under the contract until the bid package 1 work is satisfactorily completed.

The board approved the awards and the limited contingencies and asked staff to manage change orders through the prescribed review process.","The board approved awards for bid package 1 site work and special inspection services for the Princeton Road public safety campus (911 dispatch, coroner, administrative offices). The construction contract award was about $2.97 million with a 5% contingency; special inspection services were awarded for about $41,610 plus a 3.6% contingency.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5984673,"Butler County to close legacy insurance and workers' comp funds; finance staff to transfer roughly $18 million back to county funds",460,4237000,4697000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5762485-79cf230607693cc167c3bb34244b8856&start=4237&end=4697","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5762485-79cf230607693cc167c3bb34244b8856/thumbnail_4237000.jpg","/articles/5984673/Butler-County/Ohio/Butler-County-to-close-legacy-insurance-and-workers-comp-funds-finance-staff-to-transfer-roughly-18-million-back-to-county-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5984673-1577e0c0d346dc8163e0c91b7ce88bf0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447536&Signature=iQzzhzSzKI2DuXyk9umWRvNNMwO-RaLL4Ci0RgcVKNJfUwo6KmNO8EWJ5RAFBqzM44QEu0QNGkg5dC6f2O-pBjtbgf1osCRAonsa2zO4y7jF4fDkdmNRTi0lWmtrqjlstYfwcd87wIw46EAWQMPGcwqXmEUDZeYtmPVb160cgdg1rT12IHwDnSW4Etqzf26toeyXGm4s8kY5fANjlBuddyJGXQ5iMudgVYQFcopWF0ZEw1fESe-hX2F1bQGVlMfBECPtHVCqKT-Q8g~kHTmsM5JgaRyCJx-fE1ilMvt97G7Vr7mjAVV34FDWEkW-It8EH9Db~Fd8uUL7Hpo23~zKVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Butler County finance staff told commissioners they are closing legacy health insurance and workers' compensation funds and will transfer remaining balances back to the originating funds or to the general fund.

Dave McCormick, the county's finance director, explained the change arose from the county's transitions among insurance arrangements: from a self‑insured plan to a fully insured plan, and then to the pooled County Employee Benefits Consortium of Ohio (SEPCO). He said the changes require closing the self‑insured health insurance fund (fund 6100), the fully insured health and dental fund (fund 6101), and an old workers' compensation fund (fund 6000). McCormick described allocation worksheets that will govern how remaining balances are returned to departments and other funds.

McCormick said the planned transfers would move approximately $7.8 million back to the general fund and about $10.5 million to other county funds; the transfers cannot be expended as additional budget without required approvals and some funds must be refunded to external grantors when the original funding sources require it. The finance director and the auditor worked to confirm account numbers and said the appropriations to enable the transfers would be contingent on later formal resolutions.

Commissioners asked that returned amounts not be automatically added to departments' budgets; staff said refunds that resulted from grant funding would be returned to grantors where required.

The board approved the transfers and asked staff to provide corrected account numbers and bring the contingent resolutions later in the agenda for formal adoption. McCormick said the county established the transfers after a year of review to ensure proper treatment of contributions and to comply with statutory requirements.","County finance staff presented resolutions to close legacy self‑insured and fully insured health funds and an old workers' compensation fund, and to transfer remaining balances back to originating funds or the general fund. Commissioners approved the appropriations and asked staff to proceed with residual transfers subject to later resolutions.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5984678,"Butler County commissioners direct staff to prepare 0.92‑mill rollback and local homestead exemption for 2026 collections",1050,3057000,4107000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5762485-79cf230607693cc167c3bb34244b8856&start=3057&end=4107","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5762485-79cf230607693cc167c3bb34244b8856/thumbnail_3057000.jpg","/articles/5984678/Butler-County/Ohio/Butler-County-commissioners-direct-staff-to-prepare-092mill-rollback-and-local-homestead-exemption-for-2026-collections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5984678-61c707b8660d0dc0dc2d962c735866d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447536&Signature=Lb8qDDZh2reUTil4xZ1VmDYxSoAF7EdLMxM9f-A4w6SZReDr33fjghBSHc92Xq~QarHL4K~AaNJbGY79mG2aFGg~pHN0TCKtkVCSO58X5GhsiWnMmzJV46RsigZXIac5mXenrNLqIpd-Q1IhSh6r8M1t5ShQfFWxcy-4LdukX6KZpCAcDyFTaUHc7yjqw7gnP5OH49y09pNNB3-S~YWEZ5iPZmma8h95NxaVWuX5kmAbQCG7Q-Lh6unJgFXG~8W8qBJh6BNapnw4EsfWeJkMLkv3s0t3GvrbfXIcEYX59wIBN~NmF0WQ3QAxAZCF1VcS6donMky11ckEBaXM0dezvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a recent Butler County Board of Commissioners meeting, the commissioners directed staff to prepare resolutions to reduce the county's inside millage by 0.92 mills and to adopt a local homestead exemption for qualifying owner‑occupied properties, with both items to be certified to the county auditor for collection year 2026. Administrator Boyko presented data and asked for direction.

The action matters because it would directly lower county property tax bills and alter revenue shared among local taxing entities, including schools and townships. Administrator Boyko said the county previously forewent expected increases and has already returned substantial funds to taxpayers.

Commissioners discussed two main options: adopting a local homestead exemption that would reduce taxes for qualifying homeowners, and rolling back part of the county's inside millage so the county forgoes revenue and shares the benefit with taxpayers. Boyko summarized the options and the auditor's projections and said the auditor needs certification as soon as possible to implement an exemption for the 2026 collection year. She also said the state had proposed a homestead credit and that the county could set a local homestead exemption.

During the discussion, Boyko explained revenue impacts: she said the county's inside millage projected collections for 2026 are about $25,000,000 and that foregoing 0.92 mills and retaining 1.0 mill would reduce county collections by roughly $12,500,000. She said the change would translate to about $100 in annual tax savings per $100,000 of assessed value (for a home valued at $250,000, she said, it would be about $250). Boyko also told the commissioners the average Butler County home value was about $248,000 based on the county data presented.

Commissioner Dixon and others said they favored a combination of the homestead exemption and the inside millage rollback. After further discussion, the board reached consensus that staff should prepare resolutions to implement a local homestead exemption and a 0.92‑mill inside millage rollback for certification to the county auditor.

The board did not adopt final legislation at the meeting; staff will bring formal resolutions back for approval. Boyko noted the auditor needed timely information to calculate impacts and implement the exemption for collection year 2026.","At a regular meeting the Board of Commissioners agreed by consensus to prepare resolutions to reduce the county's inside millage by 0.92 mills and to pursue a local homestead property tax exemption for qualifying owners, with items to be certified to the county auditor for collection year 2026.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge humane alternatives to ICE detentions; commissioners and staff respond

Butler County accepts SEPCO health insurance renewal; county's increase projected at 2% for 2026

Commissioners award site‑work and inspection contracts for Princeton Road 911 and coroner campus; $2.97M bid plus contingencies

Butler County to close legacy insurance and workers' comp funds; finance staff to transfer roughly $18 million back to county funds

Butler County commissioners direct staff to prepare 0.92‑mill rollback and local homestead exemption for 2026 collections