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By Sylvia Hanneken
FACTS AND COMMON SENSE FOR MACEDONIA RESIDENTS
VOTE NO ON TAX LEVY ISSUES 18 AND 19
From the beginning of 2016, the Mayor and some Macedonia Council members have used Macedonia Council meetings and taxpayer funds (more than $15,000) to support their desired increase in income taxes. Residents said NO firmly (75% against) to them in the August 2nd Special Election. Macedonia residents again face more tax levy issues on the November 8 ballot. Here is why you should tell them NO again:
WHAT ABOUT MONEY TO REPAIR OUR ROADS and STORM WATER PROJECTS (ISSUE 18 TAX LEVY)?
- Macedonia income tax revenues are stronger than ever. Macedonia income taxes are currently generating $1.5 Million more annually than they did in the years prior to 2012.
- as our debt burden decreases we can put more funds into roads. Macedonia debt burden will decrease more than 50% by the end of this year. Two major building construction bonds requiring $1.05 Million in annual income taxes for the past two decades (for the City Hall and Recreation Center) will be completely paid at the end of 2016.
- WHY HAS MACEDONIA PLANNED TO SPEND LESS THAN $200 THOUSAND IN 2016 ON ROAD REPAIR? Funding roads should have been a high priority but was not in 2016. From 2012 through 2015 Macedonia spent $4.5 million on roads or an average of $1.1 million annually. We spent $1.5 million more on Macedonia department operations in 2016 and reduced our roads spending to less than $200,000 this year as a result.
WHAT ABOUT ISSUE 18 AND THE NEEDED STORM WATER PROJECTS?
- MACEDONIA RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR STORM WATER PROJECTS VIA A NEW FEE (TAX) COLLECTED BY THE NORTHEAST OHIO REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT (NEORSD). In July 2016, all Macedonia residents and businesses began paying for northeast Ohio storm water programs. Macedonia will receive 25% of these funds, called the Community Share for our own storm water projects. Macedonia’s annual community share is approximately $225 thousand. Over the next 10 years Macedonia’s share will total $2.25 million dollars.
ISSUE 19 WOULD COLLECT $1.05 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS DEDICATED TO PARKS AND RECREATION ($21 MILLION OVER THE LIFE OF THIS LEVY). Macedonia has not even developed detailed plans for these funds.
- A 20 year levy is putting the cart before the horse when we have major road priorities that need to be addressed. Why shouldn’t the city put actual plans together, quantify size, cost and projected construction timeframes and then ask residents to weigh in on preferences and priorities before they ask for this 20 year levy?
- Do we need this money to build an outdoor pool and update our walking trails? Specific plans are not completed, but it is unlikely that two projects together will need more than $3 million dollars to complete.
MACEDONIA IS NOT REVENUE POOR. WE NEED DISCIPLINED PRIORITIES AND STRONG FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY. Macedonia DOES NOT have to take more of our taxpayers’ hard earned money with these November 8 tax levies. Macedonia income tax rate is the same as most surrounding Summit County communities. Cities that have the same tax rate as Macedonia include Twinsburg, Solon, Hudson, Northfield Village, and Stow to name a few. We CAN work within the current income tax rate and get the job done for roads, storm water, and parks and recreation. Macedonians need to put their foot down, demand fiscal discipline, and vote NO on these tax levy issues.
OUR CITY CAN LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS AND PROVIDE GREAT SERVICES
BE AWARE AND VOTE NO ON TAX LEVY ISSUES 18 AND 19
