Text Box: This site is paid for by the South for Commissioner Committee, Steve South, Treasurer, 12 Highland Avenue, Lebanon, OH 45036      Web Master: Pat South  

It’s pretty hard to miss the county’s water tower in Landen-Deerfield Township, just off Interstate 71.  What a welcome sign for tourists driving by!

 

Did you know that Tourism is Warren County’s largest industry, attracting over 6 Million tourists a year generating a nearly $900 Million economic impact to the region annually?

 

  Text Box: It’s pretty hard to miss the county’s water tower in Landen-Deerfield Township, just off Interstate 71.  What a welcome sign for tourists driving by!   Did you know that Tourism is Warren County’s largest industry, attracting over 6 Million tourists a year generating a nearly $900 Million economic impact to the region annually?     Text Box:   THIS WEB SITE IN UNDER RE-CONSTRUCTION & UP-DATING. PLEASE EXCUSE SOME OF THE MIXED APPEARANCES.  (Note: users of Foxfire Web Browser will experience extreme difficulty in viewing this site.  Please change your browser to "Internet Explorer" for best results.)   Dear Residents of Warren County     Welcome! This is my personal County Commissioner Home Page.  This site highlights some of the issues I am working on to help assure that Warren County Ohio offers a responsible and proactive county government to address the many issues facing us due to our county's 75% growth rate over the last 16 years & 28.5% just since the 2000 census.  Our population in 1990 was 113,909.  By 2000 our population reached 158,383 and numbers released in July of 2008 show Warren County's current population at 207,353.  While our growth rate has slowed for the 2nd year in a row, there is still plenty of growth to keep us busy!  Warren County still ranks as the 2nd fastest  growing county in the state and still in the top 100 fastest growing counties in the nation, coming at at #98 out of 3,141 counties. As we celebrate our county's many strengths, assets and overall positive standing; dwindling resources, budget restraints and cut-backs challenge us to live within our means just like every other business and household in the nation. Warren County has practiced solid financial policies for many years, as evidenced by the existence of our $15M rainy day fund.  We are one of only a few counties not laying off staff in 2009.  However, no matter how good our financial practices, we cannot escape the fact that we are inextricably tied to the economic fortunes of our state and country. Had our State and Federal Government (Republicans & Democrats alike) paid attention to their budgets like we do here in Warren County, there wouldn't have been a need for the bailout of Wall Street due to a near collapse of our Banking system, let alone the bailout with our tax dollars of private enterprise - GM & Chrysler that in the end didn't make a difference in their outcome.  Both of these companies could have filed bankruptcy or reorganization without having spent our tax dollars first. Had our government operated efficiently we would not have heard the words "American Recovery Act" or "Stimulus" dollars. Despite what the media has chosen to focus on, Warren County is applying for some stimulus dollars. However,  we are being very selective and put the stimulus money through the same scrutiny that we put any other grant through.  If we don't need it - we don't apply for it.  The only difference on the Stimulus fund is that we prefer our 'unused" share to go back to the U.S. Treasury to pay down the national debt - not redistributed elsewhere. The reality is, any money we don't take WILL be distributed to other counties. While some of the stimulus dollars we will be receiving will help meet our growing demand for emergency assistance, food stamps and helping our residents find employment, Commissioner Young and I agree that putting the stimulus money into major infrastructure projects is an economic stimulus that will have long term benefits to Warren County's resident and businesses.  I can assure you that the money we accept will NOT be used to hire new employees that we can't afford to continue paying after the stimulus money is gone and it won't go toward purchasing items that we do not need.  We - our children and grandchildren will be paying extra taxes the rest of our lives for this "Stimulus" deficit.  It is borrowed money - our future tax dollars...do we best use it wisely and effectively.  I want to be able to show our children what they are paying for with improved roads, expanded water and sewer treatment plants, Court building Additions....things with long term life use - not vehicles (that we were purchasing anyway) that will be worn out in 2-3 years.     We will continue working hard to maintain services and planned projects while cutting overhead costs where ever possible. We will continue to place emphasis on Economic and Workforce Development.  By creating jobs and training workers to meet the skill set demands of employers, and linking new jobs to our citizens, we will get our economy going again and be better prepared for the bright future that lies ahead of us. I will make every attempt to keep you informed on my views and positions and hope you will take time to visit this site frequently.  As always, I want to hear from you.                                               Pat South                                                                                         Working for all of Warren County                                              Send a Message to Commissioner South Here                                                Visit the web site below for a special Tribute to our men and women serving in our Armed Forces.   Armed Forces Tribute                                       

                     Pat Arnold South

Text Box: Warren County Municipal League DRAFT Website                                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Where to purchase your Dog License (Due 1/31/2010)   Dog License Application (PDF) List of the County, State & Federal Elected Officials serving Warren County, Ohio List of Candidate (as of 2/18/10) running in the May 4th Primary Elections