Property Values Drop- Again

Viet Vet -

Only five years ago HUD funds were successfully used to leverage private funds in expanding homeownership and housing rehabilitation opportunities. At that time, 60+ moderate-income first-time purchasers were aided annually in buying homes. Additionally, 100+ low- to moderate-income homeowners were assisted with minor to major rehab improvements.

In mid-2008 Judy G. made it known that she preferred these HUD funds to be utilized for demolition over homeownership and rehab efforts. She then got rid of me, put Ginger Smith in charge of a new department for which she lacked knowledge and experience, then got rid of Ginger to bring in Doug.

Look at the results. Significant waste of Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds was one result. Remember the $217,000 project? Remember the acquisition and demolition of Central Avenue properties? Remember how they could have/should have used NSP funds for up to 70 purchase-rehab-resale homeownership projects? Instead, they ended up with 10 bloated deals.

I've said it all before. The facts I've presented clearly and factually show that Judy and Doug's revised policies and plans have failed miserably.

The primary reason that the total valuation has dropped from $1 billion to $700 million since 2006 is that the state legislature eliminated the tangible business property tax on inventory and equipment.  Communities like ours with a large manufacturing base were hit hard. The state government took away 30% of our tax base, and substituted a Commercial Activity Tax that goes to the state general fund, and is not returned to the local governments and school boards.

"The one-half of one percent drop this year was not caused by that, but by the continued effects of the recession on property values"

BUT, IF THE REASON FOR PROPERTY VALUE DECLINE IS THE EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION, AS YOU SAY, WHY ARE THERE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT ARE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT REBOUND FROM THE PROPERTY VALUATION DECLINE WITH PROPERTIES ALMOST AT PRE-RECESSION VALUES NOW? WOULDN'T THE RECESSION AFFECT ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY AND WOULDN'T THE EFFECTS LINGER IN ALL AREAS?

"Communities like ours with a large manufacturing base were hit hard. The state government took away 30% of our tax base, and substituted a Commercial Activity Tax that goes to the state general fund, and is not returned to the local governments and school boards"

SO, AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE ONLY MEANS OF OBTAINING REVENUE TO OPERATE YOUR SCHOOLS IS TO PLACE CONSTANT LEVIES ON THE BALLOT THAT WILL, IN SOME CASES, CONTRIBUTE TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HOME BUDGET AND WORST CASE, FORCE SOME SENIORS AND LIMITED INCOME FOLKS TO READJUST THEIR STANDARD OF LIVING? NO OTHER OPTION HERE FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD TO CONSIDER TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS? HOW ABOUT THE ELIMINATION OF OVERDONE ASSISTANTS IN THE SYSTEM? WHY THE NEED FOR MULTIPLE PRINCIPALS IN THE SCHOOLS AND IN ADMIN? A LITTLE TOP-HEAVY IN THE ORGANIZATION AREN'T WE?

Some people HAVE gone to tha attorney generals office. They refer you back to HUD. Then if you voice a concern about money is being misappropriated they again refer you back to your local police dept, we'll how far do you think that goes.!! Even Butler county sheriff's office refers you back to local police. So while HUD IS INVISTIGATING maybe a few more calls from citizens might be of help. Someone also said the Columbus and the Cleveland office has read the forum remarks,so go ahead and fill them in on our "Executive Director" and our "Administrator" of the HUD program in Middletown and the "slight of hand" movements of money by our council.IMO

over the hill wrote: Some people HAVE gone to tha attorney generals office. They refer you back to HUD. Then if you voice a concern about money is being misappropriated they again refer you back to your local police dept, we'll how far do you think that goes.!! Even Butler county sheriff's office refers you back to local police. So while HUD IS INVISTIGATING maybe a few more calls from citizens might be of help. Someone also said the Columbus and the Cleveland office has read the forum remarks,so go ahead and fill them in on our "Executive Director" and our "Administrator" of the HUD program in Middletown and the "slight of hand" movements of money by our council.IMO

WHAT ABOUT THE MEDIA APPROACH? WOULD ANY OF THE DAYTON OR CINCY TV STATIONS DO A SEGMENT ON THIS (EYE-WITNESS INVESTIGATION PERHAPS) IF THE DATA WAS PRESENTED BY THE FOLKS ON THIS FORUM WHO HAVE IT? WOULD IT DO ANY GOOD TO DO THIS, OR IS IT A WASTE OF TIME? HOW DOES ONE REPORT POTENTIAL FINANCIAL MALFEASANCE AND GET SOMEONE TO LISTEN AND TAKE ACTION IF ALL OF THESE AGENCIES KEEP RUNNING A PERSON IN CIRCLES? FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO THE ATTY GEN'S OFFICE TO LOCAL POLICE TO NATIONAL LEVEL HUD ----ALL SEEM TO BE A JOKE AND DON'T SEEM TO BE CONCERNED IF A POSSIBLE CRIMINAL VIOLATION HAS OCCURED.   

Viet Vet -

A good deal of verifiable information on the waste and mismanagement of HUD funds has been posted on this blog over the past four plus years by Vivian Moon and myself. Given that, I'm wondering how you, as a resident and taxpayer, feel about the millions in HUD funds that could and should have been put to much better use in improving Middletown. I don't recollect any specifics that you may have shared.

You totally missed the point, Viet Vet. I'm not referring to the glut of Section 8 rental units. What I'm talking about are financially sound first-time homebuyer and owner-occupied housing rehabilitation.

I've given all that I have over the past four years. My biggest disappointment is that some MUSA participants have ridiculed, maligned or ignored all that I have shared. I offered you insights into the seamier side of local government, egocentric senior manager personalities, a whole host of lost opportunities to better Middletown, and their contempt for meaningful citizen participation.

I will not say anymore about Middletown. I hope that you and others will listen and digest all that Vivian Moon, Acclaro and a few others have to say. The future does not look good given the current policies and plans emanating from One Downton Plaza.

Perplexed:

"You totally missed the point, Viet Vet. I'm not referring to the glut of Section 8 rental units. What I'm talking about are financially sound first-time homebuyer and owner-occupied housing rehabilitation."

MY MISTAKE PERPLEXED. HUD FUNDS DO SUPPORT THE SECTION 8 PROGRAM, DO THEY NOT? I'VE MADE MY POINT CONCERNING SECTION 8 SATURATION.

AS TO YOUR QUESTION CONCERNING FINANCIALLY SOUND FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS AND OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING REHABS........

HELP ME HERE. DON'T UNDERSTAND.....IF THE FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS ARE FINANCIALLY SOUND, WHY DO THEY QUALIFY FOR ANY HUD HELP AT ALL? LET 'EM GET A HOME LOAN THROUGH A PRIVATE LENDER LIKE MOST OF US HAD TO DO. I'M ONLY INTERESTED IN GIVING HUD PROGRAM TAXPAYER MONEY TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD WANT TO REHAB A HOME THAT HAS BEEN ABANDONED IN AN AREA OF TOWN THAT HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS. IF THEY MOVE IN AND FIX THE HOME UP, DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE AND MAINTAIN THAT HOME, WHY NOT HELP THEM. BUT, AS SOON AS THEY MISS A PAYMENT OR STOP MAINTAINING THE HOUSE, THEY'RE OUT OF THERE WITH A DEBT TO THE TAXPAYER TO PAY BACK AND NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT. NOTHING'S FREE. THE OLD SAYING "HAND UP"----YES (TO QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS)   "HAND OUT"----NOPE NO FREEBIES. THEY MUST PAY IT BACK OR NO DEAL. NO KINDER/GENTLER HERE. JUST BLUNT AND TO THE POINT ARRANGEMENTS. THIS OCCUPANCY NEEDS TO BE AUDITED FROM TIME TO TIME DURING THE LOAN AGREEMENT. VIOLATORS IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM THE HOUSE BUT STILL WILL REPAY THE LOAN. THAT SHOULD CAUSE A COMMITMENT. HOW THOROUGHLY ARE THESE PEOPLE SCREENED AT QUALIFICATION TIME? IS THERE A "DEFAULT" RATE?

"I hope that you and others will listen and digest all that Vivian Moon, Acclaro and a few others have to say. The future does not look good given the current policies and plans emanating from One Downton Plaza"

TRUST ME, I'M ON YOUR SIDE ON THIS ONE. THE FUTURE HASN'T LOOKED GOOD FOR DECADES. THAT'S WHAT IGNORANT, CORRUPT, INEPT LEADERSHIP DOES TO A CITY. .... I'VE MADE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR OVER THE YEARS THAT WE NEED A TOTAL HOUSECLEANING OF THE CITY BUILDING FROM THE CITY MANAGER ON DOWN.

HAVE I SATISFACTORILY ANSWERED THE QUESTION OR DID I MISUNDERSTAND AGAIN?