Tuesday, April 28, 2009

A Thought on the Toledo Deficit

Throughout the process of trying to balance the budget, the Administration has continued to demand increased revenue with little or no conviction, to cut costs. Numerous times, the Mayor has gone back to Council demanding increased taxes and fees to supplement the budget. He has threatened to layoff police officers and after issuing pink slips, gone back to Council demanding more revenue. We are now 4 full months into a year in which it was well recognized there was a budget deficit. We are now at crunch time and to save the 150 police from being laid off, the Mayor again has gone to Council demanding more revenue.

We sit poised, waiting for their decision at the meeting this evening. What will they do, allow the layoffs? Increase the refuse fee? Cut the reciprocity?

Is there a grand scheme in all this? Well, here is a theory worth considering.

1. Whether Carty runs again or not, he intends to be a force in the political scene of Toledo.
2. He has always had the support of the fire and police unions. To stay politically powerful, he needs their continued support.
3. The only way to balance the budget is to increase revenue or cut spending. To cut spending effectively, he must negotiate down the contracts with the police and fire and do away with the extremely generous packages which he gave them previously.
4. If he cuts their benefits, he would lose their support.

How can he maintain the police and fire support and still balance the budget?
1. Give the pretense of negotiating contracts
2. Give the pretense of cutting costs
3. Delay the process to the last possible moment to increase the fear
4. Plan to layoff a ridiculous number of police to scare the electorate
5. Plan to layoff a ridiculous number of police to force Council to increase revenue to ensure this does not happen

Would the Mayor do this? Sadly, I believe he has.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Lucas County and Regionalism

There is much talk of regionalism, the advantages, the need, the importance for growth. Those who so often profess the need for regionalism could create true regionalism in Lucas County.

Due to the imbalance of population in Lucas County, it is virtually impossible for the surrounding communities to elect a County Commissioner; our three Commissioners always end up being Toledoans.

With true regionalism, the outlying communities would have a Commissioner represent them in Lucas County and by so doing; we would see a growth of new ideas and opportunities.

It’s time to begin the process in sincerity by Districting Lucas County in a way to give regional representation to the county. I suggest the following:

· County Commissioner pay be reduced to $60,000 per year
· Lucas County be split into 4 districts as noted on map:
· Districts 1, 3, and 4 each have 1 Commissioner
· District 2 (Toledo) would have 2 Commissioners

By implementing Districts for Lucas County, we will open the door and invite true regionalism. We need representatives from our successful Lucas County communities.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Letter to Gov. Strickland, Charter Schools, #2

I emailed you on April 14th, regarding Charter Schools. Our grandson received horrible treatment by teachers in the Toledo Public School system and no one cared. As a result, he was enrolled in a Charter School, Wildwood Environmental Academy and has excelled. My question was this: why is he worth less to the state of Ohio than a child enrolled in public school? I did not receive a reply to this question.

I now have a second question, have you visited any of the Charter Schools to see first hand why parents choose to enroll their children in an alternative educational program? I would like to invite you to visit Wildwood and see how much they accomplish with so little funding. Our Grandson will attend Knight Academy next fall. It is operated by St. Francis DiSalle. I extend an invitation for you to visit the school he will attend next year. This would be an eye opener for you and your staff if you were will to visit with an open mind. Please advise when you would like to visit, I will contact the schools and make the arrangements for you.

I await your replay and acceptance of this offer. In Toledo, your biased opinions are affecting 3000 children.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Tough Decisions in Tough Times

This is a difficult time in Toledo and City Council has many tough decisions to make. How can you balance the budget effectively and prepare for the future of Toledo.
Regardless of the decisions made, votes taken and outcome, it is essential to acknowledge the sincere, honest effort each Council representative puts into the decisions made. Thank you for all your hard work on behalf of the residents of Toledo in such a stressful time.

I offer the following…
Increasing revenue through additional taxes, fees, or assessments may, in the very short term, solve the issue; however, in the long term, it will further alienate residents and businesses and continue the exodus from Toledo.

What are the alternatives?
First, and foremost, reducing the police force by 150 is surreal, unacceptable and irresponsible. There are 3000 employees in Toledo and for a division of 650 to lose 20% of their staff is unimaginable and unreasonable. If the Federal Government is allowing the funds for 40 police officers, why then are the cuts necessary.

The Mayor is taking this approach for 2 reasons, one to force concessions from the Unions and (2) to force Council to bend in his direction of continuing increases in taxes, assessments and fees. Don’t weaken and don’t yield. He is wrong, if he threatens until hell freezes over, he is still wrong.

If 150 more must be cut, take them from unessential services. There are private organizations, which would take on the recreation services and many other services the city now pays to provide. Utilize the private sector.

The Unions are saying they are trying to negotiate the contracts, but also are saying the will not offer concessions. Concessions are not an option they are an essential necessity. The contracts need to be more in line with the private sector. It is a bitter pill to swallow as it was for those of us who work in the private sector and had to also swallow that pill, but that is the medicine needed to fix this economic epidemic. Don’t look for more revenue you must require responsible contracts.

If staff has been cut to 32 hours per week, if refuse collection crews have cut routes and overtime by the rolling pickup schedule, and our employment rate is only 5% higher than the low of 7.5% in 2005, it does not seem possible the gap in the deficit is as great as the Mayor suggests. What has been offered to prove the deficit amount?

Before jumping into privatization of refuse collection, carefully check the numbers. In February, I provided a study of the cost of private companies versus city service and it does not bear out a savings. The study was prior to the changes in crew sizes, changes in routes and rolling schedules (which I consider long overdue).

I DON’T BELIEVE IT!

The budget which is reviewed in a PDF file can be provided by the treasurer in an excel spreadsheet which could easily be assessed and used to determine what is causing the gap. Request and .xls format you can analyze. If you already have one, please forward so I can review. I would like to do a study of the data.

In the end, when the economy improves and one reflects on this very difficult time, I ask this: if the fire protection fee reimbursement ordinance passes, if the refuse fee increase passes, if reciprocity is cut, and city government sees the income continue from these sources, will they continue or will they be discontinued. As with the ¾% temporary tax, the revenue will be used and become necessary. But what then, will we lose more residents due to the increased cost and will we lose more businesses, as more fines, taxes and assessments are set? Will our home insurance rates be increased to cover the decision by Council to bill back the charges for fires and other fire department services?
Why do we pay income tax? When will Toledoans see relief?

Suggestion: Go back about 15 years, 30 years and 45 years and look at a budget and what services were offered in those years. Compare the services and see what changes can be made. I finally realized that so many services we offer in the City started out as a very nice program provided by the private sector and non-profits and seemed like such a good idea, the City took over the programs. We can no longer keep absorbing all the programs that seemed so valuable. Even something as small as the Easter egg hunt… any church in a neighborhood offered egg hunts, why in the world did the City support one also? The church on Strayer Rd. dropped 20,000 eggs from a helicopter!!! Why did the City even consider do an egg hunt? Not only was it a waste of our funds, but also of personnel, printing and advertising.

In this difficult time, get back to basics, police, and fire and refuse collection. These three budget items are first and always attacked in a budget crunch with the intent to frighten residents and Council into compliance to the will of the Mayor. Be tough, be firm and be careful.

With sincerity, I offer thanks for your willingness to represent us in such a difficult environment.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Fire Protection, Insurance and Another Money Grab

I'm mad as hell and don't want to take it anymore. This is insane. Has Mike Craig never purchased house insurance? When we purchase home insurance, a portion of the decision of the rate is based on whether your community provides fire protection and they even ask how far from your house is a hydrant located. If close and the community provides fire protection, the rate is lower. Absolutely, if the insurance companies start getting billed for the service we pay taxes to provide, the insurance companies for everyone in Toledo will be raised to cover the cost.

I am so sick and tired of this I would like to scream. Have the guts to renegotiate the contracts, cut services temporarily in non-essential areas and move forward when the economy improves. By the time the fire department starts seeing the little bit of revenue from this money grab, the economy will have improved.

Dumb... dumb and dumber!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Trash Tax and Class Action

To all in Toledo, if the Trash Tax is deemed unconstitutional by the courts (will take about another 2 to 3 years) would you want a refund? Or would you say, "gee, the City stole that money from me, it was not legal, but they need to keep the money, I don't want a refund". How many of you go back to the checkout at the store when they charge you too much for an item? Well, if you want a refund if the tax is deemed unconstitutional, you need to fill out and mail a protest form... today! If you do, let us know so we can keep a list to join you in the class action. Here is a link to the form: TRASH TAX PROTEST

Then email and advise you protested: TRASHTAX@GMAIL.COM

Letter to Gov. Strickland, Charter Schools

Well, to send an email to Governor Strickland, one must plough through the State of Ohio website, then fill out a form, then "submit" the email. When finished, you have no record of sending the email. I find this appalling that there is no email address for the Governor to send from your personal email. Anyway, I wanted to copy the Governor on the email regarding charter schools. It was sent to every Ohio Senator and Ohio Representative (excluding Teresa Fedor - her only concern is the Teacher's Union). Did anyone else catch the report on MSNBC about Charter Schools... Ohio was referenced along with Governor Strickland's intention to cut spending for students of Charter Schools. We hit the national news again.

This is the email sent to the Governor:

Dear Gov. Strickland,

The following email was sent to every State Senator and State Representative excluding Senator Fedor as I know she opposes Charter Schools in any format. I am beginning to believe you, as Governor, are more concerned with protecting the teacher's union that advancing the education of our children. I would be amazed if you ever visited a Charter School. By the way, you met our Grandson by chance at McDonalds in Maumee, OH. He also was stuck in the ruling of no free weather days and wrote you a letter about it. I was disappointed at the reply, it was a canned "no answer" reply, he deserved better. Here is the email I sent:

I don't understand the thought process on Charter Schools by Governor Strickland who professes to be concerned with the education of our children. Why is a child who attends a charter school worth less to the state than a child in a public school? Or is the funding a way to destroy charter schools and end the threat of competition to public school systems within the state. President Obama recognizes this is the only hope we have of improving our schools systems, if the charter schools are squelched and choice is removed from parents essentially forcing placement in substandard public schools, we will continue on the road to complacency. A child in a charter school does not take one cent from public schools, rather the money follows the child. This is disgraceful.

I speak from experience which was bitter and painful as I watched our bright, delightful grandchild tormented and abused in first and second grade in public school and no one cared. He has blossomed, grown and flourished in the Charter School program. The teachers and administrators respond to concerns by listening and with caring. They offer suggestions and accept recommendations leaving behind the hidden agenda of protecting the school system and not the child.

I ask again, why is this child worth less (or shall we say "worthless) to the State of Ohio because he attends a charter school. Protect the choice of school selection and equalize the funding for charter schools.

I'm very displeased

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Charter Schools

I don't understand the thought process on Charter Schools by Governor Strickland who professes to be concerned with the education of our children. Why is a child who attends a charter school worth less to the state than a child in a public school? Or is the funding a way to destroy charter schools and end the threat of competition to public school systems within the state. President Obama recognizes this is the only hope we have of improving our schools systems, if the charter schools are squelched and choice is removed from parents essentially forcing placement in substandard public schools, we will continue on the road to complacency. A child in a charter school does not take one cent from public schools, rather the money follows the child. This is disgraceful.

I speak from experience which was bitter and painful as I watched our bright, delightful grandchild tormented and abused in first and second grade in public school and no one cared. He has blossomed, grown and flourished in the Charter School program. The teachers and administrators respond to concerns by listening and with caring. They offer suggestions and accept recommendations leaving behind the hidden agenda of protecting the school system and not the child.

I ask again, why is this child worth less (or shall we say "worthless) to the State of Ohio because he attends a charter school. Protect the choice of school selection and equalize the funding for charter schools.