Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune has proposed a plan that he believes could keep some homeowners from moving away.

        Under Mr. Portune's plan, the county would use its investment portfolio to buy interest points off home improvement loans for residents — and possibly businesses.

        Mr. Portune sent more than 400 letters outlining the idea to elected officials and business and civic leaders on Friday.

        The idea is that if residents can get low-interest home improvement loans — possibly even mortgages — they might not be as quick to leave for greener pastures in Northern Kentucky or outlying Ohio counties.

        “The perception is that the population loss is due to people leaving Cincinnati, but this is a countywide issue,” Mr. Portune said. “If we can create a tool that makes it more attractive for people to stay, we should do it.”

        Cincinnati has lost 9.2 percent of its population since 1990 — 33,000 residents. Countywide, the population loss was 3.1 percent, although some areas experienced far greater losses.

        The program would be modeled after one in Cuyahoga County, which has helped reduce interest rates on 2,700 loans worth $30 million since July 1999.

        Here's how it works:

        The county uses money it is going to invest anyway, typically in certificates of deposit, and agrees to take 3 percentage points less on that investment. In return, banks offer loans to individuals at 3 points lower than market rates.

        County officials see a return on that investment by increased property values and by stabilizing school districts, said Helen Knite-Smith, program director in Cuyahoga County.

        “People who want to put in that extra family room or bathroom, through this program it's affordable,” she said. “So it becomes less expensive to stay put than it is to move further out of the city. It's the kind of thing that makes a big difference to people.”

        There's been some buzz on the state level about the program.

        State treasurer Joe Deters said he will approach the Legislature this summer about the possibility of the state using some of its investment portfolio in counties with similar programs.

        “We're willing to give it a shot if it can assist people staying in urban areas,” Mr. Deters said.

        Mr. Portune said his program would not have income limitations, but would have geographic restrictions so that only areas experiencing population loss would qualify.

        “The loss we're experiencing knows no income levels,” he said.

        It's a different kind of loss that worries Hamilton County treasurer Rob Goering — the loss of cash on the county's investments.

        “Cuyahoga County has a lot more distressed properties than we do,” Mr. Goering said. “I'm not big on taking less than the market provides. That's a risky investment.”

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