WILLOUGHBY HILLS TRIPLES DOWN:Third Reading of Proposed Income Tax Legislation

Tonight Willoughby Hills City Council will have a third reading of proposed legislation that will change the income tax structure in their City.
QUOTE: "...a proposed amendment to the Charter of the City providing for an increase in the rate of the municipal income tax to 2.25% and a tax credit of 100% with said credit limit to be equal to 1.85%."

That is a direct quote from the Council Meeting Agenda for tonight, posted below.
Willoughby Hills Council Agenda 02252010
The fact is that one group will be paying higher income taxes while another group will pay lower income taxes, if this is passed; the income tax, or payroll tax, the workers at Willoughby Hills businesses that work in the City but do not live in the city will pay more in payroll taxes.

Sure, some residents will pay less in taxes, which is good for the Council Members' and Mayors' constituents' pocket books--we get that.  However, businesses in North East Ohio have made it clear they will not tolerate these sort of money grabs.  That's not our opinion, ask American Greetings and the City of Brooklyn.

This is bad for business in a difficult time.

The bottom line is that Cities can not keep raising taxes on businesses.

Please do not play the fiddle for Safety Forces.  People are getting tired of that.  Case in point: Willoughby Hills Police Department makes a strong presence on I-90 known; don't you think people get tired of seeing Traffic Patrols, especially Willoughby Hills police cars parked next to one another on I-90 talking to each other and other departments?  This sort of reminds people of Lindale.

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.

Delay of Game: Port Authority pushes report and public meetings back a few months

According to the News-Herald.com story, here, Lake County Port Authority Officials are delaying the feasibility study and report on Lost Nation Airport. Don't worry though, the Port Authority Executive Director says report is going well!

I wonder if the problem is really that Jim Brown, Port Authority Board Member and Lost Nation Fixed Based Operator (FBO), needs more time to convince fellows Port Board members that the prudent thing to do is buy the Airpot from the City of Willoughby.

Shame on Willoughby City Council for Authorizing Mayor Dave Anderson's request to enter into a contract with Jim Brown as the FBO for Lost Nation Airport.

I bet you that the report will conclude by suggesting that Lake County needs the Lost Nation Airport and that the Port Authority must make financial arrangements to buy it from Willoughby!