Lindner's largesse

As commissioners seek to make Hamilton County government more efficient, a task force they empaneled to study the issue has been looking at how other governments have accomplished that.

Many of those task force members have asked about visiting those other counties -- counties home to Miami, Fla.; Phoenix, Ariz., and Charlotte, N.C.

Commissioner Phil Heimlich today told the task force he recently talked to prominent Cincinnati businessman and current owner of the Cincinnati Reds, Carl Lindner, and Lindner has agreed to donate $25,000 to the task force for expenses.

Heimlich said the goal was to raise $50,000 for task force expenses.

Commissioner Pat DeWine told the task force today that Hamilton County also "will find some money" for the expenses.

The task force's goal is to identify $25 million in savings from the approximately $1 billion Hamilton County spends annually by making government more efficient, even if it means privatizing some services now provided by the government.