Years ago, and before every levy, I stated the effects of the levies bring brought forth often, with great regularity. The fact is the higher costs associated with levies and tax rate increases, diminished exactly what Middletown was attempting to accomplish. It lowered market attractiveness and elevation of tax base, associated with lowering market demand, its really that simple.

With lowered market demand, and the poor demographics Middletown has been victim for decades, the schools perform poorly. When the schools perform poorly, the tax rates are high, associated with enormous apathy and the use of voting blocks the city and the school board effectively makes use, and fairly, the problem will never cease. Years ago I called it the Titantic syndrome. The ship going down, and the Perfect Storm signs have been everywhere, and for decades.

Why would building more new buildings raise property taxes, when market demand is so dismally low presently? Why would focusing on downtown, turn around Middletown? Young professionals excited to move into a system with poor schools that just wont get better....the demographics arent changing, a chronic problem, and crime and homeless still flock the streets at night. The city has gotten so dangerous, stopping to get a sub at Subway or driving a major road system, causes one to be at risk for a bullet and harm in well traveled, and well populated areas.

At the end of the day, discussions do little to rectify the problem. The problem is too many levies passing by older individuals that have drastically raised property taxes, while demand for property is just dismal and getting worse. That is why Middletown's touted comeback, is rhetorical spin, never to be fulfilled. And to that end, this story and outcome, was told and documented many times over, here on this forum a decade ago.