0
0
Underutilized Funds in Ohio’s Veterans Service Offices Raise Questions
Cincinnati, OH – Revelations that millions of dollars earmarked for veterans are redirected to general funds in Ohio counties have sparked concern. This issue caught our attention, leading to an in-depth examination of Veterans Service Offices (VSO) in Southwest Ohio.
Our investigation, prompted by complaints from veterans and growing online discourse, focused on eight regional VSOs. One veteran, Ernest Coleman, described his discouraging experience at Hamilton County’s VSO. Despite being there for mandated assistance post his Army service, he encountered dismissiveness and apparent apathy.
Every Ohio county offers an office where veterans can seek help – from transportation to filing paperwork for VA benefits. However, the responsiveness and efficiency of these offices appear to vary. For instance, an online response suggested bypassing Hamilton due to its high demand, recommending Butler County as a more efficient alternative.
Our inquiries confirmed that many Hamilton County veterans have indeed approached Butler County’s VSO. Mike Farmer, executive director of Butler County’s VSO, hinted that some veterans might be “benefit shopping” or simply dissatisfied with the services they received.
Digging deeper, we found that 634 Hamilton County veterans have filed claims in the Butler County system. Similarly, Clermont County, under the new leadership of Tom Scovanner, is making strides to improve services, particularly in the realm of transportation.
However, disparities in funding and resource allocation among these offices are glaring. Data from the Ohio Department of Veterans Services paints a clear picture: despite serving thrice the number of veterans, Hamilton County’s VSO budget is significantly lower than its counterparts in Butler and Clermont.
Farmer, of Butler County, openly expressed doubts about managing his operations with Hamilton County’s budget. Further highlighting the disparity, while Butler County’s office plans to expand its 11-strong team, Hamilton, which serves a significantly larger veteran population, functions with only six members.
Efforts to understand Hamilton County VSO’s operations and spending decisions were stonewalled. Despite multiple attempts, Hamilton County VSO Executive Director, William Boettcher, declined interviews, suggesting a website visit instead. Notably, Boettcher, who has been in his role since 1991, drew a $123,891 salary in 2022. Most concerning is that while his office was allocated over $7 million for veteran services in the same year, less than a million was spent.
Further investigation revealed that over the past five years, more than $31 million, originally intended for veterans, was redirected to Hamilton County’s General Fund. A critical detail conspicuously absent from their official website.
Source: WCPO Cincinnati
