Robin Piper, the Prosecutor of Butler County, brings into office a wealth of legal experience and knowledge.Mr. Piper graduated from the University of Dayton School of Law in 1981.

In addition to maintaining a private practice in Hamilton for many years, Mr. Piper was also an Assistant Prosecutor for John Holcomb from 1983 until 1998. Mr. Piper's record as a Assistant Prosecutor is remarkable, and his efforts as a Special Prosecutor during the famous Lucasville Prison Riots earned him praises and recognition from then-Governor George Voinovich, Senator Mike Dewine, and the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association. read more

September 12, 2008

Cates Teams With Prosecutor Piper To Change County Mileage Reimbursement Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, September 12, 2008
CONTACT: Andy Shifflette
(614) 466-8072

COLUMBUS—With tremendous spikes in the price of gasoline across Ohio in recent months, State Senator Gary Cates (R-Butler County) today introduced Senate Bill 362, legislation designed to give county commissioners the authority to set the mileage reimbursement rate for witnesses subpoenaed to testify in county court. The issue was brought to Sen. Cates’ attention by Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper, who explained that current Ohio law, which sets this rate at only ten cents per mile, has not been changed since 1976.

“Victims and witnesses who are subpoenaed to court should be fairly compensated by way of a reasonable mileage reimbursement rate. With the prices of gas being what it is, $.10 per mile is not reasonable. SB 362 is long overdue and we deeply appreciate Senator Cates’ willingness to seek changes where they are needed. Every little bit we can do to help citizens participate in government and the legal system is important,” Prosecutor Piper stated.

Specifically, SB 362 would permit the board of county commissioners in each of Ohio’s 88 counties to increase the mileage reimbursement rate for witnesses testifying in civil cases in county court to as much as $0.505 per mile, which is the current reimbursement rate for state of Ohio employees. In addition, the bill would change the mileage reimbursement rate for witnesses in other courts of record and state adjudication hearings to $0.505 per mile.

“While it is clear that Ohio’s mileage reimbursement law needs to be reformed, we did not want to place an unmanageable financial burden on Ohio’s county governments. With this in mind, SB 362 gives our county leaders the flexibility to determine what reimbursement rate they can afford,” explained Cates. “I would like to thank Prosecutor Piper for bringing this issue to my attention, and I will work in the coming weeks to move this important bill forward.”

Sen. Cates added that his office consulted with the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association and the County Commissioners Association of Ohio in drafting the proposal.

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Contact: For more information contact Robin Piper
(513) 887-3494

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