Accomplishments

Public Safety

Negotiated a contract with Butler County to provide an additional 400 jail spaces – the largest expansion in County jail space in 15 years.
Approved funding of expanded sheriff patrols in Over the Rhine, reducing crime in that area and making the streets safer.
Helped create neighborhood probation substations, increasing the corrections presence in the community.
Created the Instant Notification program with Clerk of Courts Greg Hartmann to ensure the safety of the County’s foster children. The program ensures that County Jobs and Family Services officials are notified immediately when a foster parent has a contact with the criminal justice system.
Working with Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters to fund a program to target and remove from the streets Hamilton County’s most violent offenders.

Taxes and Spending

Leading the fight against the $736 million sales tax increase implemented by the Board of Commissioners without a vote of the people.
Instituted budget reforms that held general fund spending and taxes under the rate of inflation each year. The 2007 budget was actually $7.5 million less than the year Pat took office..
Reformed the Tax Levy Review Committee to provide greater oversight and accountability for County tax levies. As a result of Pat’s actions, the 2006 tax levies placed on the ballot by the Commissioners will save taxpayers $102 million over the next five years below inflation adjusted levels.
Negotiated a deal with Drake Hospital that improved service and increased admissions while also increasing the amount the County receives for a lease payment from $1.00 per year to $1 million a year. In 2009 the taxpayer subsidization of Drake will end, saving taxpayers over $11 million dollars.
Created the Competition and Efficiency Committee to bring the concept of Managed Competition to Hamilton County, saving taxpayer dollars and making County government more efficient.
Introduced leveraged buying to County government by centralizing County purchasing. In the program’s first two years there have been over $15 million in savings. An additional $12 million in future savings have already been identified.
Merged the ADAS and Mental Health Boards saving $700,000 - $1 million per year and focusing more funding towards directly providing services.
Successfully stopped an effort by the County Administration to increase the real estate transfer tax on people who invest in Hamilton County.

Reforming County Government

Spearheaded the creation of the Government Cooperation and Efficiency Project to examine ways to consolidate services and facilitate cooperation among the County’s cities, villages, and townships with the goal of improving government services and lowering taxes.
Created the Instant Notification program with Clerk of Courts Greg Hartmann to ensure the safety of the County’s foster children.
Put out the County Report Card, making your County government more accountable and allowing citizens to measure ongoing County progress.
Consolidated public housing programs in the County, appointed members to the CMHA Board that appreciate and understand the problem of public housing, and demanded background checks for Section 8 recipients.

Encouraging Economic Development

Reformed the Hamilton County Building Department making it easier for people to invest in Hamilton County.
Fought to stop highway closures at Galbraith Road and in Northside, maintaining quality of life and protecting the economic viability of the region’s core.
Changed MSD tap fee policy to help encourage building and development.
Streamlined the Subdivision Review process and restructured the Building Department to reduce paperwork, and bureaucratic red-tape.