Solution to fill 8 million deficit for Toledo....

Reread this tomorrow and you'll see that smoking pot and trying to think straight dosen't mix.

Better idea that won't fix the deficit:

Make it mandatory that each new car have a gps that issues cruise control limits to the car's computer. Nobody can speed unless they turn on the cars emergency beacon, which lets the cops know they are in distress, and gives continuous updates on their location. The technology already exists, they don't do it because they want people to speed so they can write tickets. Traffic camera's are a quick and unconstitutional way to do it. I'd rather it were by gps with no tickets, and so no higher insurance rates and costs from tickets.

In other words the car would never let you speed, no just while in normal cruise control, but no speeding anytime, unless you declared an emergency, something you would have to explain as the cops would know who you are and where your car is. Lots of lives would be saved, and the insurance companies would be screwed.

speeding tickets @ $100 each, 8 million dollar deficit. Wow, that is a lot of tickets.

Maybe Toledo could explore the idea of taxing every property owner that has a fire-hydrant in front of their property, with a $250-a-year "Fire-Hydrant Maintenance Fee." -Kind of like the recycling fee. There are a lot of fire-hydrants out there.

- JUST JOKING !!......I know, I know....we shouldn't be giving city officials any more ideas. This would surely piss a lot of people off, for sure.

But on a more serious note. I wonder how much those big billboard sign companies pay on an annual basis, to the city, for each location that has a Giant Billboard. -There are so many billboards everywhere...it seems.

I grew up in upstate New York. Every few years, I go back to visit old friends. I was getting lunch in a Subway sub-shop 1 day for lunch, when I noticed they charged me local sales TAX, even though it was a carryout order. I questioned the tax, and they said it was legit.

I'm not suggesting the city of Toledo begin taxing carryout orders, the same as if orders are consumed on the restaurant premises. But if Toledo revenue streams continue to get worse over the next few years, it wouldn't surprise me if various new taxes were created, to nickel-n-dime everyone, a little bit at a time, here and there, every single day.

Go up north, Michigan already taxes carryout orders, fast food.

Once again, I have to believe that any level headed person could look at the budget, make hard, but necessary choices to cut budget and get it balanced.
I'm hockeyfan and I hope to have your support for mayor.(I've approved this message)

Hockeyfan... You got my vote.... We need all new blood from top down in the public office both city and county....

Well one thing that should be done is the elimination of all City Council At-Large positions. There is no reason for Toledo to have 12 City Council members when a city twice the size only has 8. Also most of the At-Large members are those that have been career council members that will never go away. I'm sure right there that would help some.

Just taking a quit glance at the budget...

$850K in Clothing & Linen - employees can buy their own work uniforms.
$745K in Telephone equipment charges? Are they leasing everything.
$130K in Copier Rental - Umm, buy a couple.
$3.6M in electrical fees - solar panels and wind generators may not be a bad idea to help lower this a bit.

So that portion out of the general fund...you should be able to save up to a million right there.

The other sections too numerous to mention, electricity is a major cost. The city needs to start finding ways to get reduce energy usage or switch to green energy through wind mills or solar panels.

How would the insurance companies be screwed? They price based on risk, so if you can't speed, their risk of you having a speed-related accident decreases. A speeding ticket may be the only indicator that you are an irresponsible driver, so they would need to find other ways to price you as a risk.

I know it sounds silly, but what if we spent 8 million less? If one looses their job and gets a different job making less money, one has to spend less. If they are unemployed and receiving unemployment checks, they have to spend less. Why is it so hard for people to grasp the idea of the government spending less.

Millions of people have to do it every day. Thousands of companies have to do it every day. Why do so many think the government is immune from this. If you bring in x dollars then you can only spend x dollars.

I have had the misfortune of working for a couple of companies that went out of business. The things that can be cut when needed are amazing. Things like the free coffee and office supplies always seem to be first on the list and personnel is always last. But when your 8mil in the hole you get rid of things you dont NEED and people whos jobs can be done by others.

Personal assitants and spokes people should be gone. Next the discretionary spending levels should be reduced by 90% if not completely eliminated. All spending should be reviewed and scrutinized. Emotion can not be part of the decision! Our hair is on fire and we're worried if our tie is the right color.

I am embarrassed by how our government is ran. This problem did not sneak up on us and the same group of dumb asses have be in charge the whole time. Why do they keep getting voted in?

Vote the bums out! Vote for hockeyfan!!

So Carty's solution...elimination of the income tax credit for non-resident Toledo workers. So now, i'm guessing, if you live in Maumee you get to pay income tax to two cities now and not just one. How retarded.

Eliminate local income taxes.

"The city of Toledo has to slash more than $14 million from its budget - not the previously announced $8.1 million - Mayor Carty Finkbeiner announced during a press conference Thursday."

Mayor's plan :

• One provision calls for Toledoans who work outside the city to have their income tax credit reduced from 100%, to 50%. That's expected to raise $5.2 million.
• Another move is taking one fire apparatus out of service, reduce the minimum daily staffing from 103 to 99, and reduce fire overtime spending by $2.5 million.
• Other parts of the plan includes exempt employees switching to a 36-hour work week.
• Savings are also expected from the implementation of a citywide automated trash service.

From the Blade story:

That could upset councilwoman Wilma Brown who last year said:

Wilma was referring to Toledo's 3/4% income tax and what would happen to T-town if voters failed to renew that 25-year-old temporary tax.

Carty Finkbeiner's 2005 Mayoral Campaign Promises :

14. Commit to hiring more police officers, so Toledo will no longer have the fewest police per 1,000 residents of any major city in Ohio.

Nov 14, 2008 - Toledo Blade - Proposed 2009 Toledo budget could leave no money for police, fire classes

Feb 10, 2009 Toledo Blade story

Sep 23, 2008 Toledo Blade story :

The largest Toledo police class, in 1983, numbered about 120. But Toledo's population is much smaller today than in the early 1980s.

T-town's population :

Despite the recent discovery of lost souls living in Toledo, the 2010 census will probably indicate Toledo's population to be in the 295-298K range.