Butler County officials on Monday released the revised 2008 budget of $185.3 million, which increases the property tax rate by 2.5 mills.

The tax rate now totals 30 mills. State law prevents the county from raising the rate higher than 25 mills without dedicating mills to something other than the general fund. Five mills of the spending plan are dedicated for debt service.

The revised budget restores funding for nearly 30 nonprofit organizations. Although that funding is less than some groups sought, the budget does not cut the amounts given in 2007.

Butler County Community College is to receive nearly $4.6 million, a $150,000 increase from this year. Bill O'Donnell, chief county clerk, said the hike can be attributed to the county's pledge to help the college with its building projects.

After being told by the commissioners to develop a budget without a tax hike, O'Donnell on Dec. 5 presented a $182 million spending plan that eliminated all of the nonprofit groups' funding except for more than $1.5 million to BC3.

When the organizations protested, the commissioners relented. To help meet the 30-mill limit, O'Donnell cut $600,000 from the prison budget. Most of that, $400,000, will come from out-of-county inmate housing. The expense, originally budgeted at $2 million, was reduced to $1.6 million.

Due to overcrowding at the current prison on Vogely Street, the county houses numerous inmates in other county prisons for a fee.

O'Donnell said the $2 million was for a full year. With the new prison on South Washington Street scheduled to be operational by September, the $1.6 million covers eight months. If the new prison is not open by then, the housing expense would be offset by the lower operational costs of the current prison, he said.

According to the county property and revenue department, a 2.5-mill tax hike will cost the average homeowner $37.50 more next year.