LONDON: Voters say ‘No’ to tax
By Jane Beathard
Staff Writer
A proposed .05 percent income tax increase to independently fund the London Fire Department went down in flames on Tuesday.
Unofficial results from the Madison County Board of Elections tallied 1,740 votes for the tax increase and 2,114 against, with all city precincts reporting.
The nearly 10 percent vote deficit surprised Mayor Dave Eades.
“I thought it would be closer,” Eades said.
City council voted to “sunset” the current 1.4-mill property tax that current supports fire protection if the income tax increase passed. That re-balancing of funds aimed to free $800,000 for general operations and improvements to sidewalks, streets and other infrastructure.
Without that money, the city will suffer a reduction in services — especially safety services, Eades said.
“If it (income tax) passed, we were going to gradually restore services. That won’t happen now,” Eades added.
Council will vote this month on a proposed 2013 budget that cuts funding for most city departments by 15 percent. Police chief Dave Wiseman told city council last week the reduction means five fewer officers on patrol in the city. At times, only one patrolman will be on duty.
Eades said it also means two fewer part-time firefighters and a limited number of street department workers. Some clerical employees will see fewer hours in their work week. The municipal swimming pool will remain shuttered next summer.
Faced with declining financial support from the state of Ohio in local government funds, city leaders have few alternatives.
“I wish I had an answer,” Eades said.
It’s sad that it even comes to this. Mistakes have been made on both sides, but this is truly a “don’t know what you have until its gone” scenario. People take police and fire for granted. The average person won’t need police to save them from an event, or the fire department to rescue them from a burning building, but is it worth a few dollars a year to WONDER if they’ll be there if you need them? When I vote, it’s not! Money is important to everyone, but I see a lot of finger pointing on this sight. When I think of my family, I could care less what politician has, or hasn’t made wide spending decisions. I pray you never have to regret your choices. And to the people that like to see their name in print, and think they’re funny, grow up. This isn’t a game!
Just as always the Fire and police are sucking hind teat because of funding. This has been this way every since I was a kid. I agree with London Fund these two first then the rest. Take the safety service directors job and make it part of the fire and police Chiefs job. Who knows safety better than these two people or how the city operates in regards to safety.
build a sidewalk to the pool before you reopen it. Put the pool in private hands and make some money.
People are fed up with taxes and wasteful spending. The police and fire should be funded first. The rec dept and the director are a joke. Why don t we try to attract more business. Very few use the pool so no big loss many have commented and framed up why they would not support this until changes are made. Do any officials read these comments? The whole levy was not explained we’ll to the public Even on the election site it said check back for more info in it and no info was there.
As many people have commented before, eliminate the unnecessary jobs in our city. There are entirely too many people who do next to nothing. T hat does not include our police officers. It is pure stupidity to keep positions like the parks and rec director, the full tme safety director, the full time zoning inspector, and many more. Come on people! Keep our police force as it is or increase the number of officers! One patrolman on duty is going to lead to big problems in our city and a for sure increase in crimes. The street department workers will not be a loss at all, they sit up there in that building and do nothing most of the day anyway. Good riddance to some of the lazy people in this town. The pool will not be a loss to our community either as parents use it as a free babysitter in the summer anyway. The answer for you eades is to keep our Safety Services and be smart for once and eliminate some of the people whose jobs can be combined.
“If it (income tax) passed, we were going to gradually restore services.” Well maybe you should have said that first. you didn’t…maybe if they get rid of the london trash bags, let people buy their own, quit shoveing everthing down people’s throats. Now you got to live withing your means.
Next time you ask for money, put the trash bags issue on the ballot also.. get leaves pick up back… do something for the people who put you in office for once…..