ANOTHER REASON TO CANCEL THE NEWS-HERALD: CONSTANT LOBBYING FOR LEVIES.

DISGUSTING.  TWO DAYS, TWO ARTICLES; LOBBYING FOR SCHOOL LEVIES.

ARTICLE ONE: AREA SCHOOL OFFICIALS WHINING ABOUT DECREASED FUNDING FROM THE STATE.  THIS ARTICLE IS REALLY  NAUSEATING--IT TALKS ABOUT THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SCHOOL SYSTEMS WILL NOT GET FROM THE STATE.

ARTICLE TWO: TEACHERS WHINING ABOUT OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES FOR CLASSROOMS.

TOO BAD.  INCREASE CLASS SIZES.  LAYOFF.  SLASH PENSION FUN D CONTRIBUTIONS.  QUIT ALLOWING SCHOOL OFFICIALS LIKE KEITH MILLER (WILLOUGHBY-EASTLAKE SUPERINTENDENT) TO DOUBLE DIP (IT'S JUST THE PRINCIPLE ON THIS ONE).  CUT SPORTS.

Townships Consider Levies with Eye on Lake County Sheriff’s Road Patrols: TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES SETTING STAGE FOR TAX INCREASE

Townships consider levies with eye on Lake County Sheriff’s road patrols 

Hmmmmmm.

Read the article.

The important part to pay attention to is that the Lake County Township Association (no website) met and has discussed the idea of a "safety levy."  The article then goes on to point out that Leroy Township Trustee Chuck Klo is pondering a 0.8 mil worth $24.50 per $100, 000 of valuation.

Ding Ding Ding!

The Trustees of Lake County Townships must have discussed how much money they think they need.

The Lake County Township Association and the News-Herald are clearly setting the stage for a well orchestrated "play" for more of your money.

It's interesting to see who else was quoted in this article.

Concord Township Trustee Chris Galloway said,

"We don't want our residents to pay to maintain or increase their current level of protection, ...and then have the County cut the protection we already have by the same amount."

WHAT TRUSTEE GALLOWAY DID NOT SAY IS EVEN MORE TELLING.  Trustee Galloway did not defend the taxpayers from the standpoint of being over taxed already and entitled to a basic level of protection under law.  Trustee Galloway also did NOT take a stand against new taxes for Lake County Townships.  Instead, he worried about what would happen to services in light of an increase in taxes via a safety services levy.

Looks like Trustee Galloway and Trustee Klo are working on a new tax levy for residents of Lake County Townships.

ANOTHER REASON: WATCH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEIR APPOINTEES CLOSELY!

Corruption has come to light recently in our neighbor Cuyahoga County.  At Cleveland.Com The Plain Dealer tells us how another political appointee, public employee, or whatever you want to call the former chief lawyer for the North East Ohio Regional Sewer District is accused of taking $100, 000's in bribes.

Question every penny spent by local government and its agents, agencies, etc.  Ask for documents.  Go to meetings.

Challenge every proposed levy (be it roads, sewers, schools) and every fee (trash, etc.).

Watch closely.  

Euclid City Council approves additional fees; avert safety service layoffs - The News-Herald News : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio

Euclid City Council approves additional fees; avert safety service layoffs - The News-Herald News : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio

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Disgusted yet?  Tired of municipal, county, state, federal AND school (board) government taking more of your money?  Do they know how to spend it better than you?

Go to meetings, send letters, make phone calls, speak up!

Anyhow, why didn't Mayor Cervenik propose to layoff parks and recreation employees first?  You know why.  Mayor Cervenik went with the usual threat, something like "...we will have to lay off police, fire, ..." in order to scare everyone thereby paving the way for tax increases.

Same old same old.

It's kinda like the school boards threatening to layoff teachers or cut bussing instead of ending school board financed supplemental pay for extracurricular activities.

Mayor Cervenik played the same old broken record.

A Reader Asks...

A reader/anonymous commenter asks:

Where do we signup? The only trouble I see ahead is getting the word out. I follow 3 blogs. that mention this Kathysak, Whats Happening Painesville and yours. What kind of reach into the communities do you think these three sites will have? Enough?

This comment was submitted in response to the link we posted to the News-Herald's story about the Lake County Board of Commissioners sending a levy to the May ballot for the Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities.


To put it succinctly: the blogs you cited reach a targeted audience.  This targeted audience obsessively checks siad blogs.  How do we know?  Easy.  Server logs.


Case in point.  We very methodically covered the Willoughby Hills proposed income tax increase, change, hike...whatever they want to spin it as.  This coverage consisted of posting Willoughby Hills City Council's meeting agendas, minutes, and the use of direct quotations from the aforementioned sources.  Interspersed between the public documents and quotes we offered our views of the proposed legislation.


The result was obsessive checking of this blog by computers at Willoughby Hills City Hall, and the Willoughby Hills Police Department.  More obsessive blog checking was done by private computers using private ISP's and comments from at least two Willoughby Hills City Councilmen.


Finally, the day of the third reading the News-Herald publishes a story in which the Mayor says "...upon mull it over a bit more, ... it wasn't the right time."  Hours after this story Willoughby Hills City Council votes 7-0 to reject putting the proposed income tax increase on the ballot.


The next day the linked story back pedals and describes the punting of the hike.


We can not conclusively say that Willoughby Hills' fumbling of the tax issue was due to our work, but we can assure you that we did enough to upset the apple cart and shed some light on what was going on.


Now, you want to know how you can help?  


Write a letter to the editor!  Better yet, everywhere you go casually bring up the issue the economy and taxes.  Be it at the gym, in the grocery line, or at work...say things to people like "wow, can you believe this economy?  People are struggling, and these guys want to raise our taxes???? "  This has the effect like a pebble cast onto the glass like surface of a pond on a windless day; one small pebble ripples all the way out around it!  Then, bam!  No tax hike!

Lake County commissioners send levy to ballot - The News-Herald News : News coverage for Northern Ohio

Lake County commissioners send levy to ballot - The News-Herald News : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio  This is actually a few weeks old, but we need to bring the story back up to prepare for war.

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We told a few weeks ago that the Lake County Commissioners would love to raise taxes, especially the sales taxes.  However, Commissioner Dan Troy is up for re-election so you can bet he will wait until after November to try and raise the sales tax.

The tax-hike discussed in linked article and video is a 3.4 mill replacement levy for the Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities.  The levy would confiscate and additional $58.20 per $100, 000 of real property value.

As usual, Kathy Sak does a great job by posting public documents; for instance, she posted the salaries of all the Developmental Disabilities Board employees.

We are planning an all out assault on the levy: read-up, watch the video, and get ready to rumble!!!

Note to Commissioners: Our work on this blog was instrumental in defeating the proposed legislation  to raise taxes in Willoughby Hills, so you better rest assured that we will go after this one harder!

Mayor Weger has a Revelation: The Economy is Bad

Below we told you that Willoughby Hills City Council is tripling down: A third reading of the proposed income tax increase, change, whatever ... is set to happen and will be followed by a vote.

Hours before Willoughby Hills City Council's vote on whether or not to increase pay roll taxes Mayor Wegar seems to have had an relvelation.

Mayor Weger explained to the News-Herald

Weger had explained this meant people who work in other communities with a 2 percent tax or greater will actually be paying less, while those who work in Willoughby Hills but live elsewhere will be paying more to the city, increasing revenues.

Hmmmmmmm.  Sounds like a bait and switch, or a cleverly crafted plan to raise taxes.  What do we mean?  Well from the looks of the Mayor's words the legislation would lower income taxes on some residents and raise taxes on some people who work in the City; what resident would not vote YES on the proposed legislation?  Essentially Willoughby Hills City Council would bribe voters for their YES vote by giving them a lower tax rate (via a credit) and raising taxes on workers.

Slick.

All of sudden we have Mayor Weger doubling back hours before the City Council meeting.  Mayor Wegar said to the News-Herald, and reported this afternoon

However, upon mulling the legislation over a bit more, he decided it wasn’t the right time for it.

Mulling over?  What?  Is this an election year?

Mayor Weger went  onto say

“The whole economic situation of the city, the county the state, everybody’s in the same situation and we’ve just gotta try to be smarter and come up with different ways to save money ... like self conservation,” he said. “The storm’s not over yet, but everybody’s going to weather it together. It’s just hard for everyone.”

Let's make a bet: Willoughby Hills City Council stalls this proposal.  Why?

Councilman-at-Large Dave Fiebig is running against the more conservative Mike Zuren for the republican party primary. would have a lot of explaining to do this fall when he faces Rep. Loraine Fende.  Now Councilman Fiebig can say he is against tax hikes...Rep Fende is a tax hiking democrat...I will lower taxes, etc.  (We are hypothesizing here, none of this has been said yet).

WE ARE WATCHING CLOSELY!

Fende and Schneider Voted YES on At Least 120 Fee Increases, and Counting (HB 1) and Increased your Income Tax 4.2% (HB 318)

Last year Rep. Loraine Fende and Rep. Mark Schneider voted YES on House Bill 1 (the State Budget for 2010 and 2011).  This Bill (see the Ohio Legislative Service Commission Bill Analysis) increased at least 120 fees on small businesses, big businesses, and YOU!  Increases took place on everything from the license fee ($50 -$100) to operate a meat precessing facility (page 93) TO fees on just about every license and test we take to do our jobs.  Everything from fees for securities licenses (page 193) TO fees for boiler operators (page 198) to elevator inspections fees (page 198) to Social Work and Therapist fees for tests and licenses (page 209) TO fees on real estate professionals (page 201) ..................... it goes on and on.  Seriously.  Just down load the PDF here and type "fee" in the search field.

The fee increases by businesses (like the example above) are passed onto YOU!  This is not to mention the numerous fees increased on all of us who renew car registrations, register with the State for a license or take a test.
Ohio House Bill 1 State Budget
Don't for get the 4.2% retroactive increase in income tax for 2009 and 2010 to cover the $900 million shortfall!
HB 318 Bill Analysis

Consequences of Ohio's Poor Tax Structure

Are you an elected official and thinking of raising taxes?  Are you an elected official thinking about proposing raising taxes?  Are you an elected official thinking about "letting the voters decide?"

Read the report below, and think a little longer.

Bear this quote from the following paper in mind:

At the heart of Ohio’s fiscal problems is a tax system and business climate that has been driving people out of the state for more than 15 years, resulting in a shrinking economy and a smaller tax base. At the same time, state government spending grew unchecked, resulting in a heavier tax burden on the state’s remaining citizens. Ohio taxpayers now have one of the highest tax burdens in the nation. 

Fiscal Fact

Madison Local School District's & Lake County School Financing District's Levy (Tax Increase)

Here is the Madison Local School District's Board's meeting agenda where they decided to go after more of your discretionary income.  The SPECIAL MEETIG was February 4, 2010.  The Madison Local School District AND the Lake County School Financing District are going after bond issues and levies.

The link to the meeting minutes are here.
Madison Local School District Board February 4 2010 Special Meeting

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.

Hard To Hide From: Schneider's and Fende's Tax Increase

Fact: Mark Schneider and Lorraine Fende voted YES on a suspension of a scheduled 4.2% income tax reduction.  Fact: prior to passing H.B. 318 our income tax was going to be 4.2% lower in 2009 and 2010.

Fende has told local news papers that H.B. 318 is not a tax increase, rather it is a "delay."  Oh.  OK.  Does that mean in two years we will get this money back? NO!

H.B. 318 is a tax increase!  Read the bill analysis by the Ohio Legislative Commision below.

HB 318 Bill Analysis

Consequence of Raising Municipal Income Taxes: Willoughby Hills Should Pay Attention

Last year the voters of Brooklyn, Ohio were convinced by their Mayor and City Council that increasing the income tax 25% from 2.0 % to 2.25%.  American Greetings threatened to pull out of Brooklyn.

The City of Brooklyn wailed and moaned; they even called in Gov. Strickland (who raised taxes last year) to plea the City's case.

The City of Brooklyn seems to have come to its senses and is negotiating with American Greetings.  American Greetings employees pay 13% of the total revenues of Brooklyn, or $3 million.  Better believe Brooklyn will negotiate!

Does anyone think Willoughby Hills will be a good student of History?  Will Willoughby Hills raise income taxes a whopping 66% after they see companies are serious?

Raise Taxes Now, Really?!?

This May voters in Lake County, every one of you, will be faced with the choice of whether or not to approve a levy for the Lake County Developmental Disabilities Board; this is a proposed 3.4 mill levy that would add $58.20 per $100, 000 in property taxes.   In some communities, Madsion for instance, voters will be asked to approve a school levy; this 3.3 mill bond issue would add $115.50 per $100,000 to your property taxes.

In either case, Madison School Officials and the Board of Commissioners want to take more money out of your pocket; money that could be used to feed your kids, pay off debt, catch up on bills, etc.

 Other communities are considering "shuffling the deck" and rearranging the tax BURDEN; Willoughby Hills City Council is pondering whether or not to increase the income tax rate from 1.5% to 2.25%.  However, legislation being considered now would also increase the 100% credit from 1% to 1.85% for residents.  So, the tax burden would be shifted from many residents to the people who work in Willoughby Hills.  In any event someone may end up paying more taxes.

Officials in Willoughby Hills still have the chance to change their minds.

Consider this:  since February of last year somewhere between 7 - 8 million people have lost jobs.  Local companies like Ink Stop, Circuit City, Linens' and Things, ..., have gone belly-up.

Do you want pile on more taxes for someone?

OH-62 (House District): The Field is Growing

The OH-62 race is going to be an interesting one.  As you know former State Rep. Jamie Callender was pondering a run for the Republican Party's nomination.  For a variety of reasons already discussed Mr. Callender decided not to run.

It is a forgone conclusion that Loraine Fende WILL run again.  Fende filed a few weeks ago and issued a statement.  Based on the facts we know about Fende she SHOULD be vunerable.  Fende has never seen a tax increase she did not like...well maybe she has...she could have wanted a larger tax increase last year.  Remember that Loraine Fende voted to raise your income tax 4.2% retroactive for 2009 and for 2010; Ohio H.B. 318.

Michael Zuren, an Eastlake resident, HAS filed his nominating petitions and is seeking the Republican Party's nomination.  Michael Zuren ran for City Council in Eastlake this past fall.  Mr. Zuren finished fourth on a crowded ballot of six people seeking Council-at-Large seats in Eastlake.  Based on reports Mr. Zuren is a conservative who does not care one iota about the support of the establishment.  Good for him; the establishment should take heed of the mood around the country (i.e. Scott Brown and the Governor's races AND the TEA Party movement).

Dave Fiebig, Councilman-at-Large, is circulating petitions and is expected to file.  Counilman Fiebig will be seeking the Republican Party's nomination.  Councilman Fiebig has served Willoughby Hills for two terms and is on several committees; Fiebig is the Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee, a member of Finance Committee and a member of the Safety Committee.  There is a lot more data on Fiebig because of his website and voting record.

Fiebig's facebook fan page describes him as having "moderate" political views.  It seems likely that Councilman Fiebig will be supporting an income tax increase this May.  Fiebig, a member of the Finance Committee, MUST have had some say in the legislation read at last week's council meeting which introduced an income tax increase on those working in Willoughby Hills.  A closer read shows that some residents may actually get an income tax decrease, though, depending on what City they work in.

Doesn't matter though.  A tax increase is a tax increase is a tax increase.

If Councilman Fiebig supports this tax increase Zuren will be able to use it to his advantage in the Republican Party Primary.  In the event, Fiebig gets the nomination of the Republican Party he will NOT be able to paint Fende as the tax loving democrat many know her as if he wrongly supports an income tax increase.

This primary will be fun.

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.

Sad day in Lake County: Layoffs

It is with a heavy heart that I share the linked News-Herald story, here. Sheriff Dan Dunlap had to cut $1 million from the department's $15 million budget.

Here is what the News-Herald had to say about what was cut:

The sheriff's office already has planned measures that will cut about $900,000 from its budget. They include closing the minimum security jail in Painesville Township, laying off 13 full-time corrections officers, one part-time officer, one full-time clerk and one part-time clerk. The office is eliminating the Road Patrol K-9 Program and closing the front door security post at the Lake County Court of Common Pleas. A deputy who is retiring also will not be replaced.

Sheriff Dunlap made a good point in the article:

Sheriff Daniel Dunlap explained that the cuts are painful, unwanted but unavoidable. It would be impossible to cut more than $1 million from a $15 million budget without cutting staff.

This point is a good one, but the reality is sad.

However, with the County Commissioners already setting the stage for a sales tax increase, the City of Mentor contemplating higher income taxes and/or property taxes, higher taxes in Willoughby (school and library levy), Willoughby Hills (road levy renewal, school levy, library levy), ..., sigh.

LAyoffs in the county and higher taxes; what are elected officials in these communities thinking?

Better yet, what are the voters thinking allowing elected officials to raise the taxes?

Hey Lake County: the taxes are coming, the taxes are coming!

A News-Herald article by John Arthur Hutchinson describes the wailing and gnashing of teeth by Lake County administrators about declining sales tax revenue. Read here.

Here is a snippet from the article:

Lake County commissioners weren't pleased Tuesday to learn that sales tax collections for August were down 11.5 percent when compared with August 2008. The data reflect a time when the federal Cash for Clunkers auto program was in full swing.

Even with the Federal Government's attempt to stimulate spending, we were still short! The article states that Lake County is projected to receive $ 1.17 million in sales tax proceeds, which is down $153, 230 from last year.

Wow! That is all the sales tax revenue decreased? I thought it would have been much worse.

Can you believe Commissioner Ray Sines skepticism about the sales tax figures?

I bet the sales tax are not going to get better in communities saddled with increased taxation due to new levies. Furthermore, can you imagine what will happen if a large chunk of the county (e.g. Mentor) is socked with a property tax or income tax increase.

Sadly, the commissioners appear to be setting the stage for tragedy: a tax increase in Lake County.

Dan Troy and Your Wallet

This past week Lake County Commissioners Dan Troy (D) and Ray Sines (R) sparred verbally over a cut proposed by Sines to the fee paid by homeowners in communities participating the Lake County Storm Management Program according to a News-Herald article.

At the last Commissioner meeting Commisoner Troy and Commissioner Aufuldish (D) voted to keep the rate the same. Commissioner Sines proposed a cut of 10% for both residential and non-residential participants in the program. However, the proposal gained no traction with either of the two Commissioners.

Commissioner Troy scoffed at Sines proposal by saying it is an "arbitrary cut." Sines, however, noted that It would be a good sign by the commissioners to say we understand the economy is tough," Sines said. "This is one way we can reduce the obligation of property owners in the county."

Lake County residents seem to be generous folks; just about every local tax levy passed on this past Tuesday! But, don't play us for a fool!

Commissioner Troy's pompous remark that any cut is "arbitrary" is wrong-headed. Everyone is watching every penny! If a couple of bucks is not a big deal to you Mr. Troy, how about you pay someone's increased property taxes in a participating community affected by the passage of levies?!

UPDATE: Apparently Geuaga County Residents could use an "arbitrary cut." According to a News-Herald article found here, 753 Geauga County property owners are $456, 217.55 behind on sewer bills. These late sewer bills will result in $54, 746.10 in fines. I wonder if everybody in Lake County who owns property is up-to-date? My guess would be NO! I bet an dollar off the bill would help Lake County Residents. Tisk tisk Commissioner Troy! Have some compassion for your constituents. Do you make so much money a couple of bucks is "arbitrary" to you?