Acclaro

You continue to site home sales and not being able to sale a house as being your reason to not vote for this levy. If I remember correctly I've seen articles in different places one being the beloved journal (http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/news/local/home-sales-post-double-digit-rise-1/nPSpm/) about home sales being up! Have also noticed many homes selling here and there especially on the east end, maybe your house or your friends houses need updating and so on to appeal to buyers..    

Now- with that being said, I do realize as compared to years in the past home prices have dropped, I grew up and live in the city, makes me sick as well, but what makes you think if police and firefighters are laid off people are going to continue to buy houses or for that matter be attracted to the city?? You and most here, I hope, would know how crime is and as you say, the ambulance service is overused by whomever and whether you want to believe it or not, your firefighters combat a large amount of fires, just not as many as years ago. Moral of the story is... you have to have sufficient services in these areas to attract people as well as the things you state this city needs. The services have already been dramatically cut and if this levy fails, cuts will be catastrophic as stated by council and others.

As you state, I too am at times frustrated with council not holding up to their promises but I would agree with Vivian Moon in the fact that if you're not happy about how things are being ran, change them. Show proof that monies are being spent out of the public safety fund for the MMF crew. You make the point you're tired of being negative, well, you don’t show you're tired of it. You continue to get on here and promote negative lip service and combat things because you’re not happy with certain people on council. Well, I hope you don't vote no and this levy fails and you need one of these services you voted to cut! Remember the boy who cried wolf??

Other communities do have taxes and taxes that compare to or are higher than ours. Yes, there are advantages to living in a township and having your taxes structured in different ways but these townships have taxes for the same services this levy is for. Look up how much Liberty and West Chester Twp's pay for their safety services. Site the article the journal ran not too long ago about how you get the most bang for your buck with the citys current level of service and the cost for it! Research how many firefighter/paramedics and police officers you have in the city and how many calls for service they make a year compared to these other towns and twp’s.

Vote yes for Issue 2 for your public safety!

IT WILL NOT RAISE YOUR TAXES, ITS A RENEWAL

As you state, I too am at times frustrated with council not holding up to their promises but I would agree with Vivian Moon in the fact that if you're not happy about how things are being ran, change them. Show proof that monies are being spent out of the public safety fund for the MMF crew.

Vivian- sorry, didn't mean to "put those words in your mouth"! That statement was more meant to Acclaro in continuing to point out spending trends and where the public safety funds are being spent other than on the services. I agree with you that we need a change in leadership but there's only one way to make that happen, get out, present facts and misuse of monies(if there's such a thing?) and get people to vote against the leaders some call poor! I don't agree that saying no to this levy gets this point across, if anything I would say it hurts you and I, the citizen more than anything!

Acclaro- don't forget the large amount of money the state took from the city and the hurt it has caused on the budget. I'm not going to argue with you about money being moved or misused but I've yet to see proof of public safety funds being misused. Don't you think the fire/police unions would have attacked this to save jobs/positions eliminated Jan 1? Has spending outside of public safety been changed/altered to maintain the necessary services, Id say no, but the need for this levy to continue may/may not exist if not for the state reductions in funding. I would definetly agree priorities are skewed but everyone has a different set of priorities and that is where I think we as citizens are lacking, not making it known what we believe should be most important.

I would like to see more streets paved and so on to the tune of what you're stating Acclaro but I find public safety more important! Some streets are being paved, are they the streets you would like to see paved, sounds like not. But once again, priorities and public safety and the funding of ie..the levy, should be a priority!

And.. I hate to say it, but life is not equal in all parts and fair. Just because one lives on Davinci and their home values have decreased and at this point they haven't used police or fire service doesn't mean the less fortunate people shouldn't be provided that service! As I stated above, I wouldn't feel sorry for you If you needed one of these services and did't receive them in a timely manner because you voted no ON A RENEWAL..

Some, business has came in, has it been enough, no! We all know that, but Im pretty sure there's a new business on Reinartz and expansion/new business on Made Industrial.. these things take time! Do we have a city managaer willing to put time into this? Ask Wasau Paper, Id say no, but once again, does this mean I want to reduce public safety because of this, no!!

Eastsider, the misuse of Public Safety funds referenced above refers to the fact that the city took the .25% increase last time and rather than dedicating it solely for PS just ran it through the general fund and used as a piggy bank for running the city.  Plus some police and fire were laid off anyway.  Don't think of this farce as a PS levy, think of it simply as a 5 year old tax increase that is now being made permanent.  That is all it is. 

The following is quoted from the July 15 Hamilton Journal-News:

“We have to reduce taxes,” [Butler County Commissioner Don] Dixon said. “Taxes burden not only businesses, but the average person. People should not have to choose between paying their electric bill or to buy clothes for their children because they are overtaxed. Taxpayers are tired and they don’t want to pay anymore.”

Doing more with less and sharing resources regionally between governments is a must and will be the norm in the future, said both Sheriff Richard Jones and Dixon.

It has been interesting to observe this discussion on the public service levy and the levy for the Senior Center. It was pretty academic until Mr. Klug got personal and referred to Acclaro as telling lies, in effect calling him a liar. Well, Mr.  Klug, Acclaro is guilty at times of overstatement, on a couple of occasions had his facts wrong and on a couple of other occasions he was just wrong but most of the time he is well informed and adds a great deal of information to any of these discussions. However, I have never known of him to intentionally lie or misrepresent anything.

    There is a lot of misrepresentation on these issues and some downright lying but it is from the city. Before I address them let me be plain as to my great support for our police, fire and EMS departments. They are all very professional and serve our city as good as any departments in the country. All those who know me understand my strong feelings in this regard. The same goes for the Senior Center. I’m convinced that Ms. Munafo could turn the center around except for the fact that the city is forcing her to take the political approach in favor of their special interests rather than in the interests of seniors and the center. Why doesn’t the city just come forth and rectify the damage they did in the sale and building of the new center and support Ms. Munafo the right way?

     I received one of the mailers requesting a vote for Issue 2 on August the  7^th. It was filled with misrepresentations (lies) Mr. Klug.

Misrepresentation:  “Currently, the 2.9 M pays for 27 firefighters and police officers collectively.”  Mr. Klug, that comes to $107,407.40 per employee. That isn’t true is it?

Misrepresentation:  “This levy will keep your community much safer!”  The levy is paying this money now until December 31^st. Why aren’t we as safe now with the same money as we will be in the future if the levy passes?  You and I both know that the safety of our community is based on the priorities of the city and of the police department. Some have suggested on this blog the efficacy of a zero tolerance policy. That is not likely to happen in Middletown because of greed and the lack of vision and foresight for the city.  I’ve heard it said that we need the crime because of the revenue it produces. How shallow that kind of thinking is. Others have said its because of Section 8 renters and people in the lower income level that bring the increase of crime. Not necessarily. There are thousands of “poor folks” who are honest, God fearing people who have never committed any crimes. It will take new priorities and different police methods to make our community safer.

Misrepresentation:  “Vote for Issue 2 will NOT  increase taxes”.  The last tax was for five (5) years. This tax is proposed as a PERMANENT TAX. Please don’t insult our intelligence. Of course this is a tax increase. If I paid you a thousand dollars for five years and then said I’d pay you a  thousand dollars forever would you be getting an increase? Of course you would.

Mr. Klug, these misrepresentations (lies) are made by our city council and administration. When political officials make misrepresentations or lie that is corruption. Our city government has been corrupt for many years. Its time to change that. We can pay our public safety employees adequately without all of the corruption. I shall address that further in another blog and I shall be very interested in your response to what I’m going to be recommending. I know that you and I are on the same side of this issue but disagree on the tactics to get where we want and need to be. Thank you.            Paul Nagy

 

  Democracy is great.    

Pacman, as usual, you bring forward an excellent pt, and one I am total agreement. I do think this 1.75% is temporary. It will embolden the city, and they will raise it to 2.0 shortly. Hamilton is 2.0%, so the city will think since they have many whom live in Middletown and work in Hamilton, Monroe, and Trenton, there won't be voter discontent if it is raised. In my mind (sorry for redundancy), this is why the orchestration of city council came about shortly after the previous election.

As business growth has declined, certainly the Atrium has not produced the type and number of jobs forecast, and the loss of AK Steel executives, they will have to have another tax. Middletown's house values won't rise for years, there are simply too many, raising surplus capacity, to stabilize within 10 years. In 25 years, I have had an appraisal done every 5 years. At best, the market in Middletown has not kept up with inflation. Therefore, this levy will only serve to assure them they can keep coming back to the well repeatedly, with only positive consequence. And, there will be the school levy next, the Senior Citizen hit in November, and all these combined, drives down market interest in BOTH residential and commercial property and development. That is the vicious cycle you refer, all predicated upon a higher tax rate.   

Just watched a segment on the Channel 5 news about the Cincy firefighters being awarded millions for training, recruiting, hiring and other fire department needs. This grant came through the Homeland Security Department.

Now, if the Cincinnati fire folks can get money for their operations this way, what is preventing Middletown fire from applying for operations money in the same manner? Police too. No need for a safety levy if that were to happen, right?

Public safety levy supporters make final plea for voters

 

By Michael D. Pitman

Staff writer

MIDDLETOWN —

Middletown voters will decide in just over a week if city leaders will need to make more tough public safety cuts later this year.

On Aug. 7, voters will be asked in a special election to approve a 0.25 percent income tax levy that will raise money to help pay for police and fire department operations.

In order to balance the 2012 budget, the city made $3.7 million in cuts, with the lion’s share being cut from public safety. Those cuts resulted in eliminating 16 police and fire positions, and that resulted in five firefighters losing their jobs. The rest were just vacant openings.

The income tax public safety levy, if approved, would replace the current levy that expires on Dec. 31. However, there will be one difference —the proposed tax levy replacement would be a permanent levy.

The levy provides a $2.9 million supplement to the collective $21 million police and fire budgets.

A taxpayer who earns $50,000 annually will continue to pay $125 a year, or just under $10.50 a month.

If the levy passes, the chiefs of both the police and fire departments say there will be no reduction in services. However, if it fails, jobs will be cut.

“Our budget is cut so thin now, we’ve trimmed everything out of it that we could trim,” said police Chief David VanArsdale. “We have no place to go but for personnel, and that’s going to mean bodies.”

Most of the city has been canvassed since the campaign officially kicked off last month. Potential special election voters have also been called and hundreds of pro-levy signs have been placed around the city.

“I think with people having the knowledge that there will be no reduction in services — that we’ll at least maintain the services — that people will be supportive of the levy,” said Harvey Poff, levy campaign chairman.

“We’ve gone door-to-door, we’ve put up the signs and talked with folks individually. We’re not asking for anything other than a continuance of what we have.”

The need to replace the expiring levy was always planned, but City Council had debated if the levy should have a sunset or be permanent. The city had a number of focus group discussions, said Fire Chief Steve Botts, and results from those discussions indicated the community would support the levy.

“I’m hopeful (the levy passes) because … it will protect our current resources and continue to deliver needed services to the community,” he said.

“I don’t want to see our resources reduced,” said Botts, who added that the fire department’s response times have already increased because of the recent personnel reduction and the loss of a fire truck. He said if more cuts are made, he would be “very concerned.”

The fire chief said if the levy does pass, the city can then accept a $1 million federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and EMS Response grant that will pay for six firefighters — essentially reinstating those laid positions plus add one more — over two years. If the levy fails, cuts in the fire department will happen, he said.

VanArsdale said if the police department looses any more officers, “it’s going to mean a change in the way we do business, what calls we respond t0 and what calls we follow up on.”

Poff said the hope is a Plan B or C — asking voters again in November or making cuts — won’t be needed.

“We trust that the person who goes to the poll, that they analyze what these issues are, what the ramifications are and the what the benefits are, and that it’s not going to cost any more money than what they pay now,” Poff said.

If the levy fails in August and City Council decides to ask voters to reconsider it in November, the levy will be on the same ballot as the five-year, 1-mill levy request for the Middletown Area Senior Citizens, which would pay down its mortgage for the senior center.

Can you spot the lies???  Or the statments that make you go hmmmm???

If the levy passes, the chiefs of both the police and fire departments say there will be no reduction in services.

This is the same promise we received in the last levy that lasted five yrs. The problem came in 4th yr when we had to elimate 16 positions and lay off 5 personell. With the fire and police personell getting on average 3% raises plus retirement plus excellent health care benefits, does anyone thinnk we'll make through 4 yrs again? 3 - 3yrs raises alone will bring us to a more than 10% increase in pay with these personell. I would expect in the 3rd yr or sooner we will run into same problem of the levy not covering the number of personel we have. This will result once again in another request for a 0.25% tax increase.

Stop and think before you vote.


The income tax public safety levy, if approved, would replace the current levy that expires on Dec. 31. However, there will be one difference —the proposed tax levy replacement would be a permanent levy.

No Levy for Public Safety can ever be a permanent levy.  At the rate that Police and Fire receive raises & benefits it is mathematically impossible for this levy to be permanenty set at 0.25%.


The fire chief said if the levy does pass, the city can then accept a $1 million federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and EMS Response grant that will pay for six firefighters — essentially reinstating those laid positions plus add one more —over two years.

OK--citizens and/or public safety personel tell me the pros and cons of this thinking:

And actually to add to this.. Do some research on Sycamore Twp Hamilton county.. They accepted RFP's to contract out ems, fire or both together and found out it wasn't cheaper! Since have came to an agreement with firefighters and called back employees

Good point.  And who doesn't think that the State will be reducing payments to municipalities again in the near future?