Hamilton County budget meetings have common refrain

As Hamilton County budget meetings continue, the story remains the same. Department heads are still begging to keep their budgets intact... and commissioners keep saying everyone will have to deal with less.

Lamenting unfunded mandates from the state legislature is another popular refrain.

Board member Todd Portune says, “At what point do those above us in this hierarchy acknowledge that they can’t just keep demanding and expect to be absorbed? I would argue that we’re at that point.”

One final round of meetings is set for Wednesday. After that, commissioners have to get down to balancing the 2013 budget while dealing with a $20 million shortfall.

You can read budget forecast memos from all department heads here.