(Cincinnati) -- Chris Monzel says Hamilton County is getting stronger.  During his State of the County address, the President of the Hamilton County Commission says the last few years have been tough, but things are improving.

Monzel was the keynote speaker at the Downtown Rotary Club meeting, Thursday afternoon.

Monzel says because of reduced revenues, the County budget is 30% smaller than it was in 2008.  and monzel says they're still looking for ways to cut spending.

He says together, the City of Cincinnati and the County approved nearly 1,200 business permits in 2012, representing more than $420 million worth of local, private investment.  He says no-where is growth more evident than at the Banks, where there's 100% occupancy for residential units, and 91% occupancy for commercial space.

And the Commission President says they hope to break ground on a hotel across the street from Great American Ball Park, this year. 

Monzel says Hamilton County's stadium fund might just turn around soon.  Some help could come from the State, after Governor John Kasich proposed expanding the sales tax to cover services, and not just goods.  The stadiums have been paid for with sales taxes, which have underperformed.   Monzel says they could get an extra $6.5 million from an expanded sales tax.  And he says the County is expecting $6 million in casino revenue.

Monzel says with the stadium fund out of trouble, they could return the property tax rollback to the full amount.  It was reduced last December.  The rollback was created as an offset for the stadium fund sales tax.