The latest governing philosophy coming from the political right is the notion that government — with all the critical services and operations it oversees — should, to save taxpayer dollars, function in the most efficient way possible. Leading that charge locally in Hamilton County is its mayor: Weston Wamp.
As presented last week in the county’s proposed $1.1 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Wamp is eyeing the county’s Health and Human Services division for cost-saving cuts, all while boasting, during his annual State of the County address a week before, of the county’s “lowest property tax rate since 1941.”
Set to go into effect July 1 if approved by the County Commission, the budget proposed by the Mayor’s Office includes a $2.7 million reduction to the health division — the only one, among all major county divisions, to see decreased funding and unrequested cuts.
The impending closure of the county’s dental clinic, which provides preventive, restorative and emergency care to children and young adults, makes up a majority of the $2.7 million cut. With the elimination of 15 jobs and other operational costs at the clinic, which served over 1,800 low-income patients in 2025, the county will save an estimated $1.5 million.