Todd Portune

New effort aims to reduce infant death rates

Tana Weingartner — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:08:01 +0000

Hamilton County is preparing to launch a county-wide Collaborative on Infant Mortality Rate Reduction.

Participants include: Hamilton County, City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County Public Health, Children's Hospital Medical Center, UC Health, The Christ Hospital, TriHealth, Inc., and Mercy Health Partners of Southwest Ohio.

"It is a significant collaborative of the major healthcare systems in the region all coming together under one umbrella," says Commissioner Todd Portune.

Hamilton County's infant mortality rate well exceeds the national average.

Hartmann, Portune take oath of office

Tana Weingartner — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:55:58 +0000

Greg Hartmann and Todd Portune were officially sworn in Wednesday to serve their new terms on Hamilton County Commission.

Hartmann repeated his mantra that these are challenging times for county government but says there are bright spots as well, like the county Land Bank.

MSD rates going up in early 2013

Mark Heyne — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:19:51 +0000

Hamilton County Commissioners have approved a 5-percent rate increase for Metropolitan Sewer District customers starting January 9. Sewer rates have been climbing for several years to pay for a $ 3.2 billion system upgrade required to comply with the federal Clean Water Act.

Commissioner Todd Portune said about 780 other local governments are in the same position at a cost of more than $500 billion.

"The Clean Water Act when it was adopted 40 years ago came with the promise of federal support, but the federal government has largely abdicated that responsibility," said

Hamilton County Commissioners lay out budget alternatives

Tana Weingartner — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:03:19 +0000

After rejecting three proposed budget options put forward by the county administrator, Hamilton County Commissioners plan to offer their own spending plans Monday morning.

Hamilton County employees not likely to see wage hike

Tana Weingartner — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 18:27:59 +0000

Following up on the first of several public budget hearings, Hamilton County Commission President Greg Hartmann says he doesn't foresee wage increases for county workers.

"In our administrator's recommended budget there is discussion about giving raises to employees. As much as I would like to sit here today and say we can do that, I don't think it's consistent with where we are as a county and where this budget is," he says.