I read an excellent article today in the Toledo Free Press written by Thomas Pounds concerning the 2012 levies. I am very glad he notes to “be wary of media and levy-seeking groups that use the $60,000 home median instead of the standard $100,000 median. The article us below. I wish I were better at text formatting so I could have it with a border and colored.
There is no question that the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Lucas County deserves community support. As does Lucas County Children Services. As does the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library. As does Toledo Public Schools. As do the region’s Metroparks, and, separately, Toledo city parks and recreation facilities.
But when all of these organizations, along with Imagination Station and possibly others, are likely on the same ballot with levy requests, difficult choices will have to be made.
According to the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, if all these levies pass, those living in the Toledo Public Schools district who own a home worth $100,000 would see a $345.21 per year increase in their taxes. If you own a home worth $150,000, your increase will be $517.81. If your home is worth $200,000, your increase will be $690.42. That represents more than a few dinners out, movies, zoo trips, Mud Hens games or other activities, not to mention such niceties as groceries, utilities and savings.
As a side note, be wary of media and levy-seeking groups that use the $60,000 home median instead of the standard $100,000 median. That is a disingenuous attempt to make the levies sound like less of an investment than they are.
During the 2008 presidential election, voters passed levies for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, Imagination Station’s precursor COSI, Mental Retardation Board, Mental Health Board and Children Services and several school levies. But this deep into the economic recession, even these most vital of services may find themselves facing fewer voters willing to reach deeper into their pockets.
It may be seem logical that higher voter turnout may mean more support for levies, but that thesis will be tested this year as never before. Each of the organizations will need to work to educate the voting public on its services and needs; as unpleasant and distasteful as they may find the idea, these organizations are not only fighting the economy — they are fighting each other.
The idea has been floated to create an “umbrella” levy that would cover several human services, but that would remove voter accountability from the individual organizations and is therefore not an option scrutinizing voters are likely to support.
Toledo Free Press will endeavor to report on every ballot issue and levy as fall approaches, and each organization is invited to submit guest columns for publication. There may be four months until Election Day, but it is never too early to begin the education process when there are levies in question.
http://www.toledofreepress.com/2012/07/13/pounds-taxing-decisions/
I always look at the levy estimator feature on AREIS, so that I can see exactly how it would affect my specific home.
Glad the auditor's office added that feature - it is very useful!
Being that I am stuck with more than one home in Toledo, I can't afford to raise my taxes that much. Especially in light of the fact that the my priorities and the priorities of city and county leadership are so often at odds.
Between the Presidential race, Senate, local congresspeople, other folks running for state/city offices, plus all the supporting PAC money, plus all the local pro/anti levy groups....mid-September through early November are gonna be hell to listen to the radio or watch TV.
Perhaps someone can come up with a drinking game so I can pass out relatively early in the night?
Local media is already selling out of inventory oldhometown. I had a hard time dealing with WTOL's rates.
Oh I know it's bad now. It's going to get worse.
That "ad hopper" from Dish Network is going to look very appealing very soon....
I am trying to get my clients to focus on their media portion of their budget now, when prices are lower and they don't get lost in the congestive, negative aspects of the fall. This will be the worst ever.
So about that levy estimator... I brought it up today, and it's just showing zeros for mills, etc. and I don't see any way to change the numbers. What am I missing here?
http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2012/07/15/Political-ad-money-flows-to-local-broadcast-outlets.html
What is sad is the money coming in doesn't stay in our area. The corporations that own the stations get the money, so they pay big bucks for air time in the area jacking the rates up for local advertisers (if they can get on the air at all) and none of that money stays here.
In fact, I would argue this hurts our economy.
gamegrrl posted at 10:09:38 AM on Jul 15, 2012:So about that levy estimator... I brought it up today, and it's just showing zeros for mills, etc. and I don't see any way to change the numbers. What am I missing here?
I wonder if they haven't loaded all the proposed levies yet?
I checked my own property and see zeros as well. Normally when I click on that option, everything is filled in already.
I called the Auditor's office earlier this week, and they indicated that the estimator should be working by early October.
...they indicated that the estimator should be working by early October.
Should be?
<sigh>
I'm no computer genius, but couldn't they could just use the previous, existing calculator interface with lines of code updated with the new millages? I mean...are they coming up with some super-duper estimator?
And this will take 60 more days (August 4th - early October) to implement??? Available less than one month before Election day?
"Available less than one month before Election day?"
And there's the reason why. Don't want this out there too early. The relatively few people left in Lucas County who are actually able to think for themselves might just discover the dirty truth about just how much their taxes will increase.
I still find it amazing that reducing expenses and/or slashing programs is never a consideration to solve fiscal problems in Lucas County. And, never demanded by the electorate - hence the last sentence of my first paragraph.