As far as the schools go--I agree with you here, a school district's performance has a major impact on where a family decides to make a home.  But what control does city council have over that?  I have my problems with Middletown city schools to be sure, but that is a whole other issue unto itself. 

 

Also, to VietVet's question about cutting city employees in general, in addition to firefighters--this was an oversight on my part.  It would be my idea to apply the same principle to city bureaucrats as the police/fire employees: employ fewer, but well-compensated employees and you'll get the most bang for your buck.  The total city payroll can and ought to go down.  There is nothing wrong with having well-compensated city employees that add value to the city's services, but of course there is something wrong with having too many well-compensated city employees.  I will agree with anyone who says that cuts ought to be made to the city bureaucracy, it's just a matter of where and how much, exactly. 

 

You cite 50% reduction in home property values around Middletown--what is your source on this?  I still maintain that home values have dropped substantially all over the country and that Middletown is likely in the middle of the pack with regard to this fact.  See Stockton, CA, for instance. 

 

I neglect to mention the problems with the city have been around for decades--what are you talking about?!?  Did you read what I posted here?  Didn't I offer up the point that many of the problems that Middletown has been facing were decades in the making, and that it isn't appropriate to blame the current council for all the problems facing Middletown?  Re-read my previous two posts in this topic if you don't believe me--this point is right there in front of you.

 

As far as your low/no tax argument--I seem to recall reading an article in the Journal (so taken with a grain of salt, of course) that Middletown's income tax rate is 1.75% or 1.50%, which is less than some local areas but more than others--I believe that Dayton and Moraine were at 2.00%, Franklin and Miamisburg may have been at 1.50% or 1.25% or so (and Franklin was voting to raise theirs).  I simply don't believe the fact that 25 basis points makes a difference on where to locate a business.  The labor base has much more to do with this, and Mason and West Chester's higher proportion of college graduates greatly enhances their attractiveness to employers. 

 

And if you want some basic city services like police, fire, road re-paving, etc., some nominal income tax can be somewhat in terms of improving the infrastructure.  And I say that with the firm belief that it is government's job to keep taxes competitively low across the board.  And I will press the point further--what tax rates exactly are you comparing? 

 

And I don't believe that I said there were no ideas on this forum--but please point them out to me, as I am relatively new and I will admit to being unaware of these ideas.  Where are these good ideas for improving Middletown? 

 

As far as some other items go, like locking up the Cincy State deal, everyone who reads this let me be clear--I am not sure of any details about it other than what I've read in the paper and on this forum.  But it should be very obvious to everyone that opportunities like this don't come along very often, if ever again, really, so the city must be aggressive in closing the deal. 

 

Here's another piece of "news" for all of you--the city must compete with other cities to land deals like this, and offering incentives and tax breaks, loans, grants, etc., are part of the battle being waged with other cities.  So if you oppose this deal, please tell me--how exactly will it happen that any other potentially large deals will come our way again?  What company or institution today would be so close to establishing a major presence in Middletown as Cincinnati State?  America's days aggressive growth in manufacturing industries (the way that Middletown grew up as a city) are behind us and a new service-based and information-based economy is behind us.  I am very much a pro-manufacturing sort of person, since manufacturing companies tend to pay well and greatly support a local economy, but the reality is that there will be no more Armcos or Sorg Papers setting up shop in MIddletown any time soon, if ever again. 

 

Those of you who oppose this deal are simply standing on the sidelines waiting for something magical to happen that just won't.  The city must take risks, it must be willing to compete for jobs and do what is necessary to land deals like this, because I assure you there won't be another one like it for quite a while. 

Yes, I have been out of town consulting with Leonardo about our city's troubles, and I am happy to report that I will be back shortly with a brilliant new plan to cure all of our ills.

 

Please be patient.

     pn

 

They say that everyone has their price, so was his the 1998 cost of his house?

Sad.  I wouldnt have believed it.

 

I completely agree this is a bailout for the the Thatcher family, would be nice if they would help bail out some of the homes in foreclosure before they get to the point of no return.  It is really hurting the property values in Middletown.