From Macedonia City Councilor Kevin Bilkie
This Saturday, April 22nd at the Nordonia Hills Library, Councilor Sylvia Hanneken will be giving her thoughts on the future of Macedonia. Her event will take place from 11am to 12:30pm, which happens to be counter to a city run Earth Day event at Longwood Park.
I, for one, have some very important questions that I feel she must answer.
1. What are her goals for the city? How does she plan on making Macedonia a better place to live, or a more attractive city to buy a home in?
2. How does the Rec. Center continue to receive the funding it needs past 2019 under her tax plan?
Does she feel the Rec. Center should be shut down if it is deemed that it can no longer be funded by the general fund?
3. How will her .25% capital plan fund:
– A Roads Maintenance Plan?
– A Roads Preventative Plan?
– Police Vehicles & Equipment?
– Fire Vehicles & Equipment?
– Service Trucks and Equipment?
– The Recreation Center?
– Parks Improvements?
Our city Engineers believe that at least $1 million each year is needed just for our roads alone.
How does her plan, which will collect $1 million less in total revenue, be expected to solve our road and storm water issues?
4. Under her plan, 5% cuts in city operations are needed. Where specifically are those cuts coming from?
The Safety Force including the Police, Fire, and/or Dispatch Departments?
The Service Department?
Senior programs?
Closing the Recreation Center?
Leaf Program?
Fun Festival?
5. How does she plan to include the Water M&E fund, a fund that can only be spent on storm water related issue, to be used to pave roads?
Does she realize that the Water M&E fund of $200,000 is a one-time draw and it will not be available each year once it is spent?
6. Does she feel that the current administration and financial department are hiding money that can be used for road repair?
If so, can she explain where she believes the money is being misappropriated and/or hidden?
7. The city operations have and, even if Issue 3 passes, will continue to be funded by 1.75% of the general fund. ($7.2 million) Under her plan, and with the 5% cuts in place, how does she feel the city can operate if more revenue is needed for operations? Even with her line item budget in ’14 & ’15, the city operational budget increased.
Does she believe cuts are needed every year? She needs to explain where she can find extra money just to maintain current operations.
8. If the levy passes, will she step down off Council and retire from city government?
Not sure if this is relative, but she has been against every levy that would increase city revenue, I would like to hear her answer.
9. Does the language on the ballot supersede Ordinance 11-2017?
If not, does she agree that the percentages provided in the Ordinance specifically spell out exactly how the money, collected from the levy, will be earmarked?
If so, why would she issue statements that the money would not be specifically earmarked? Is she trying to mislead the public into believing the money will not be earmarked for roads, parks, and refund, and therefore vote against the levy?
By codified code through the passage of Ordinance 11-2017: Passed by Council.
If Issue 3 passes the Income Tax Code 2.25% broken down as followed:
77.8% General Fund – for city operations
Est. $7.2 million (same as last year)
12.9% Roads and Storm Water
Est. $1.2 million (money has never been earmarked for roads and storm water)
7.1% Park &; Recreation
Est. $650,000 (for the continued operation and maintenance of the Rec. Center and to add value to our parks)
2.2% Rebate Program
Est. $200,000
Does she not agree that is how the money will be distributed?
10. Can a capital plan, a plan that must be Council approved, spend money that is not currently available in the city’s general fund?
Why then, would she release a statement that there is no capital plan when it would be inappropriate to have one completed before the money is available? Does she not believe that the earmarked money would not be spent on roads, parks and refund?
11. Does she agree that Issue 3 will not raise taxes on the residents of Macedonia that are current under a 2.25% tax through a city-run rebate program?
If Issue 3 passes:
Does she agree then that the residents will essentially stay a 2% once they receive their full refund from the city?
Does she agree that funds, over $1 Million per year, will be available to pave roads and fix storm water issues if Issue 3 passes?
Does she agree that the Family Recreation Center will continue to receive funds for operations, maintenance and upgrades?
Those are the questions that I have, feel free to add your own.
I hope to see these questions answered, and if they are not addressed, we hold Ms. Hanneken accountable for answers.
Hope to see you there.
Kevin Bilkie
