From the Macedonia Police Department’s Facebook Page
Most people would agree everyone should be able to earn a decent wage that one could raise a family on. Most people, but there are a few who think that doesn’t apply to City employees. The comments are the same every time a levy comes up. “The employees have to take cuts” and “they have to learn to do more with less”. Truth is Macedonia employees have taken cuts and have done more with less. Unfortunately, certain people keep repeating inaccurate facts and eventually people start to believe they’re true.
POLICE DEPT
I checked the salary (pay for more than 8 years of service) for police departments around Macedonia. These are the closest city police departments in each cardinal direction. North – Bedford, east – Twinsburg, south – Hudson, west – Brecksville. Again, I didn’t hand pick these cities. They surround us.
Bedford $72,183
Twinsburg $74,663
Hudson $67,142
Brecksville $76,630
Macedonia $66,726
Clearly, Macedonia is not overpaid when you compare us to the surrounding departments. Another thing to consider, for years now Ms. Hanneken has been making you believe city hall employees have been showered with lucrative pay raises. She has been quoted as saying since 2012 city hall employees have received a 12% pay raise averaging better than 3% a year. What she fails to tell you is the reason she starts counting in 2012 is because in 2010 and 2011 employees took 0% and 0%. They also took 0% this year. So over the last 8 years they received a 12.75% raise or an average of 1.59%. a year.
STATISTICS FOR 2016
The residents of Macedonia are getting more than their monies worth from the Macedonia Police Department. Do more with less? Clearly we do! Here is a list compiled from Stow Municipal Court for various arrests. I have each city listed and the number of officers on that department: SEE ATTACHED CHART BELOW
Seems we are doing more with less, wouldn’t you agree?
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
The administration of Macedonia has been looking for ways to save the taxpayers money for years. Most people would agree criminals should go to jail for their offenses. Jail serves several purposes. It’s a deterrent to some. It also keeps the number of warrants down because people are not released before trial unless they post bond thereby forcing them to come back to court. Since 2004 Macedonia has taken in misdemeanor prisoners from 7 other cities, villages and townships to lessen the burden of the jail on our residents. Last year we brought in over $118,000 in fees. Dispatch is another area we try to save money for the residents. Many people are not aware we dispatch for three police departments and four fire stations. The revenue offsets dispatching costs to our residents. These are just several examples of how we are trying to be good stewards of your tax dollars.
CITY HALL AND SERVICE
The Mayor has said when he left the City in 2001 there were 14 city hall employees. He stated there are currently 14 city hall employees. In 2006 our service department had 18 full time employees. Today we have 15 full time employees yet the City has added an additional 40 lanes miles and numerous residential developments to handle.
It’s unfortunate there is a misinformation campaign out there that our residents have to sift through to get a clear picture of what is happening in Macedonia. FACT – what you pay now you will pay if the levy passes. FACT – when RITA (which we have no control over) was first asked about giving our residents a direct refund they stated NO, residents will have to apply to the City for the refund. They have since stated IF the levy passes they will consider redoing our tax structure (my words) and give the residents a direct refund. It will be up to their board. No promises but they will consider it.
