Planning + Development Impact Statement

Executive Statement
While the Planning + Development (P+D) Department has made tremendous improvements and
progress over the last five (5) years, the proposed budget cuts will likely negate these efforts and
possibly create new issues. The cuts will:
1) Require the Department to eliminate jobs and services;
2) Lead to a decline in the level of customer service;
3) Delay construction and development project timelines; and
4) Result in a loss of revenue.
Overall the cuts will impact all businesses, municipalities and residents in P+D’s jurisdiction and could
stymie investment and development in Hamilton County. However, with a more reasonable cut,
meticulous oversight and revenue enhancements through modest and or targeted fee increases, P+D
could maintain current standards and service levels.

New Leadership and Preemptive Strategies

During the last six (6) months, new leadership of P+D has made effective changes to create a more
efficiently organized department. One of the main changes was to track expenses and cut overages to
create a leaner budget. Secondly, several open positions were left unfilled in preparation of a potential
budget reduction. Finally, leadership identified a strategic process to vet all decisions to review any fiscal
impacts.

Impacts of Proposed Budget Cuts

1. Loss of positions: Between 3 to 4 current general fund positions will need to be eliminated. While
the responsibilities will be re-appropriated, employee morale and productivity declines of remaining
staff are anticipated due to increased workloads and stagnating wages.
2. Decline of Customer Service: With current staffing at minimum levels, the department will not be
able to keep up with the demand of customers. Wait and response times will increase in some areas
and certain functions will be eliminated entirely in others. Furthermore, it is anticipated that
increased workloads will decrease performance efficiency, leading to more complaints.
3. Delays in Construction and Development: The loss of positions will ultimately increase project
timelines. Projects in P+D’s jurisdictions will become more expensive to manage for customers
resulting in the loss of potential business expansion.
4. Lost revenue: Delays in construction will lead to project abandonment during approval phases in the
building and zoning areas, which equates to lost revenue. While the loss of personnel and
eliminated services in planning functions will reduce opportunities for contractual revenues. Both
may lead contract jurisdictions elsewhere, creating a loss in revenue-based contracts.

Solutions to Proposed Budget Cuts

1. A more reasonable cut: Restoring portions of the budget will reduce the severity of the impacts.
This will minimize the absorption of some functional responsibilities among remaining staff and
maintain programmatic and customer service functions.
2. Continued oversight: Leadership will continue to find methods to strategically eliminate costs and
maximize revenues.
3. Revenue Enhancements: Modest increases to building and zoning fees could help offset cuts if
returned to P+D. The City of Cincinnati has increased building fees multiple times in the last several
years. While these fees were more expensive than the County fees to begin with, Cincinnati has
increased fees by double digit percentage points in aggregate over the last 2 years alone. A modest
3 to 5% increase could generate an additional $75,000 to $225,000 in revenues while still being
within reasonable norms.

09/14/2018