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HAMILTON — Butler County commissioners laid much of the blame for coming layoffs in the county's Environmental Services department at the city of Hamilton's feet.

The city can stave off layoffs for some of the 22.5 imperiled jobs, and save the related city income tax, by negotiating a lower rate for water. Interim County Administrator Tim Williams said this would allow the county to reduce staff through attrition instead of layoffs.

And commissioners gave the city 30 days to offer a lower rate before staffers get the axe.

"Just a reduction of one dollar to the 'Tier A' rate would have a big impact so we could reduce our rates," Jolivette said. "I believe they can do that without any major impacts."

Hamilton Deputy City Manager Charles Young said he hates to see the jobs go, but the county already pays less per unit than any other customer and he sees further reductions as unlikely.

"Any rate change would simply be an increase for the citizens of Hamilton and their water rate," Young said.

This is nothing new. Commissioners have long pushed for the city to lower its rates. They even contracted to buy all the county's water from Cincinnati except the 8 million gallons of water a day the county is contractually required to buy from Hamilton, called Tier A water.

That contract expires in 2021, but commissioners want rates down now. Cutting staff was the final option. "We've exhausted just about every other means, so we've gone to this," said Commission President Charles Furmon.

Jay Long, president of the union that represents roughly 100 of the department's 142 employees, did not return calls for comment. Seventeen of the positions slated for the axe are union jobs.

This follows a planned merger of four county departments that commissioners say could result in another 20 layoffs.

Furmon said these cost savings measures have been in the works for months, and it's just a coincidence both are coming to light now.

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