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Warren County veterans officials are seeking a 37 percent increase in their 2014 budget to seek out veterans qualifying for benefits.
The Warren County Veterans Service Office’s proposed 2014 budget calls for $2.1 million, 37 percent or $586,000 more than was budgeted this year.
But Commissioner Dave Young questioned the plan, pointing to a recent TV report on veterans in North Carolina relying on government assistance, rather than pursuing employment.
“It’s almost changed the culture there. Now they’re all on the government dime,” Young said during a public hearing called last week by veterans officials because the budget request calls for more than a 10 percent increase.
Ohio law entitles the county offices to up to 0.5 percent of a county’s inside property tax millage.
In Warren County, this would translate to $2.7 million to $2.8 million, according to veterans officials.
Veterans officials in Warren County said they were entitled to the full $2.1 million budget request, pointing to the law and estimating the county had retained $12 million in unused property tax millage during the past seven years.
Even if the full budget request is allocated, the county would end up with the remaining $600,000-$700,000 that could be appropriated to the veterans office, along with any funds unspent at the end of the budget year. The funds then go into the general fund for other uses.
Assistant Warren County Prosecutor Keith Anderson said
the veteran’s request is legal and not subject to reduction by the commissioners.
Tom Sigmund, a U.S. Army veteran, and commander of the American Legion in Waynesville
and Lee Roy Sandy, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, said the funds should help qualifying veterans.
“I believe the money coming in for the vets should be used for the vets,” Sandy said. “I don’t think it needs to go back in the general fund.”
The veterans office budget increase primarily is aimed at new outreach efforts, including the purchase of a $200,000 van, officials said.
Veterans agencies are trying to get to soldiers returning from Afghanistan in Iraq and others from past wars failing to take advantage of benefits available to them, according to officials.
“We’re not in the business of doling out benefits to veterans just because they are available,” Rodney Eversole, executive director of the Warren County Veterans Service Office, said during the hearing in Lebanon.
So far this year in Warren County, 455 veterans have received $254,867 in assistance compared with 691 veterans receiving $347,378 during the same time period last year, Eversole said.
The veterans officials say that rather than a lack of need, the reduction is the result of a lack of awareness.
“We’re trying to get the word out,” said Frank Huffman, a veterans board member from the local Disabled American Veterans organization.
Eversole said the reduced assistance could be traced in part to the office’s move to 320 E. Silver St. from 312 E. Silver St.
The reduction also could be related to a change in guidelines for assistance beyond $1,500. The $1,500 limit covers a 12-month rolling period now, compared with $1,500 lifetime, Eversole said. For additional assistance, the veterans must seek approval from the veterans commissioners.
“What we’re basically trying to do is close a loophole,” Eversole said.
While questioning the budget request, Young said he is a veterans supporter as well as an advocate for limited government spending.
Rather than taking on costly debt, the county government’s conservative spending of property taxes enables it to pay for capital improvements, such as a $6 million building expansion currently under construction, from cash reserves, Young said.
Commissioner Pat South said she hasn’t received complaints about veterans not receiving full benefits in Warren County.
Commissioner Tom Ariss suggested the agency work with other county departments to identify eligible veterans. Young and South didn’t respond for additional comment about the issue.
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