Issue 5 passes in Lake County

The voters spoke: Issue 5 passed overwhelmingly.  


The puff pieces in the News-Herald, deceitful literature, and endorsements worked!


It was disappointing to see Mayors Wegar and Anderson and Rep. Latourette root for a tax increase.

Rep. Latourette, Mayor Wegar and Mayor Anderson Support Raising Taxes: Endorse Issue 5

A second major piece of literature was delivered today in order doop Lake County Residents into voting for Issue 5.  Let's be clear: Issue 5 is a tax increase and a new tax.

Rep. Steve Latourette is placed prominently on the literature next to Commissioner Bob Aufuldish.

Steve Latourette is an embarrassment now.  Grandstanding in Washington is one thing, but supporting tax increases is another.

Here is a link to Friends of MRDD list of endorsement for Issue 5.  Rep. Fende, Mayor Bonde, and Commissioner Aufuldish supporting a tax increase?  No surprise.

But, Rep. Latourette (R, OH-14), Mayor Bob Wegar (R, Willoughby Hills), and Mayor Anderson (R, Willoughby)?!  Yikes.

Rep. Latourette, Mayor Wegar and Mayor Anderson are supporting a tax increase.

Here is the piece

MRDD-1

Doubling Down: 2nd Reading by Willoughby Hills City Council on Proposed Income Tax Change

The City of Willoughby Hills will have a second reading this week (a SPECIAL MEETING) of the income tax "increase" being considered.   Please note that Ordinance 2010-7 uses this precise phrase "... an increase in the rate of municipal income tax...."

To be fair Ordinance 2010-7 also proposes "...a tax credit of one hundred percent (100%) with said credit limit to be equal to one and eighty-fice hundreths percent (1.85%)...." This is an increase in the existing credit level from 1% to 1.85%.  See below the Council meeting agenda for yourself
Willoughby Hills Council Agenda 021810
The problem is that the City of Brooklyn, Ohio may have driven our American Greetings as a direct result of this same type of maneuver.  Brooklyn, Ohio also lost Hugo Boss recently.  The loss of Hugo Boss probably had less to do with the tax increase than it did with cheap labor overseas, but it did not help.

THE TAXES ARE COMING, THE TAXES ARE COMING! Willoughby Hills and Lake County Hold onto Your Wallets!

Recently we told you that The Lake County Commissioners are trying to go through the back door to raise our taxes: its' official!  The Lake County Commissioners passed a resolution today that will place a 3.4 mil levy on the ballot.

Shame on you County Commissioners...especially you Dan Troy!

PLAIN AND SIMPLE: DAN TROY WANTS TO RAISE TAXES...BUT THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR.  FOR THIS REASON HE IS HOPING YOU WILL APPROVE A LEVY!

The News-Herald has the story on the 3.4 mil levy here.

It gets worse.  Willoughby Hills City Council is considering a proposal tonight that will jack-up the City income tax from 1.5% to 2.25%.  The News-Herald covers the story here.  Mayor Bob Wegar and Willoughby Hills City Council just got you to approve a road levy renewal...two levies passed this fall for libraries and schools...now the City wants more of your money.

Shame on you Willoughby Hills!

Here is the Willoughby Hills City Council Agenda with the tax hiking ordinance 2010-7
Agenda.0211  


Here is the offending ordinance:


AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO 
THE ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE RATE OF THE MUNICIPAL INCOME TAX TO TWO AND ONE- QUARTER PERCENT (2.25%) AND A TAX CREDIT OF ONE HUNDRED PERCENT (100%) WITH SAID CREDIT LIMIT TO BE EQUAL TO ONE AND EIGHTY-FIVE HUNDREDTHS PERCENT (1.85%) AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.


One can say that at least the Lake County Commissioners and Willoughby City Council are giving the voters a chance to approve or disapprove. The Commissioners COULD have just increased the sales tax.  Not sure though how Willoughby Hills could circumvent the voters.  At least the voters will have a say.