Vote "No" on Issue 22 Property Tax

The Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST) urges Cincinnati voters to reject the permanent property tax increase that will appear on the ballot as Issue 22.

With proposed projects such as restaurants, beer gardens, roads, and golf course expansions, this tax hike arguably does more to destroy nature than it does to enhance it.

COAST opposes a permanent, costly property tax increase as well as the poor accountability of the funds that would be raised. Under this Charter Amendment, spending decisions would be made by the Mayor and his appointments to the Parks Board, largely removing our elected City Council from the process.

We are concerned that this lack of accountability creates a backdoor path for the Mayor and his appointees to approve unpopular projects that Council would otherwise not approve.

“Cincinnati voters should reject a permanent property tax hike that hurts our parks,” says State Representative Tom Brinkman, a long-time Cincinnati resident and COAST co-founder. “Please Vote No on Issue 22.”

In face of funding failure, Flynn offers pathetic mea culpa

Kevin Flynn spent fifteen minutes with Willie Cunningham on 700 WLW last week explaining that he only violated his promise to voters to stop the Streetcar because some unnamed people mislead him. He was bamboozled by the empty promises made to him by people who promised him the operations funding ($4-$5 Million per year) were on the way.

Bad Trash Fee for Small Businesses Starts Oct. 1st

From Christopher Smitherman:

Effective October 1, all Cincinnati businesses will pay a fee to have their trash collected. Cincinnati City Council voted 7-2 in December to stop providing trash collection to small businesses. The two Council members who voted no, were Charlie Winburn and Christopher Smitherman. 

If you live in a township, you don't pay a 2.1% tax; you pay as you go for services, like trash collection. Living in the City, you pay a flat 2.1% tax for services which is supposed to cover trash pick up. The trash fee vote by Council reduced services to small business. For example, a barber/beauty shop will pay a monthly fee to have a private company pick up their trash as well as continue to pay the 2.1% tax. Now that Council has opened the door to this monthly fee, the fee WILL increase year after year. It will not stay at $14.

When driving by barber shops and beauty salons that have yard signs in their businesses supporting Democratic candidates, you must wonder if they know those same candidates are the ones who voted to stop trash services to small businesses and charge a trash fee.

This is another reason why I continue to support John Cranley for Mayor. Roxanne Qualls was 1 of the 7 who voted for the trash fee for small businesses. All of these will be passed on to the costumers.

I strongly encourage you NOT to use a Democratic sample ballot when you vote because you will be voting for candidates who continue to charge you higher fees and raise your taxes, making it more difficult for you to live. My democratic colleagues will spend more time throwing around labels trying to divide and distract you from their voting record.

I am NOT a Democrat; I am NOT a Republican; I AM an Independent. You don't have to vote for 9 candidates for Council. You can vote for 1 and up to 9. Once you vote for more than 5 or 6 candidates, your ballot is not as powerful. Keep this in mind when you enter the ballot box.

To learn more or contribute to  Christopher Smitherman's Campaign click here.

Stewards of tax dollars, NOT lords.

FOX19.com-Cincinnati News, Weather

Dohoney Reveals Budget

Relies on One Time Revenue

Tax Increases and Cuts to Services

Paving the way for even more tax increases!

The wait is over.  Mayor Mallory's final budget has been released. Available for review below.

Among the "Biggies" in the budget is the proposal to lease the City's parking operations for thirty years.  City Manager Dohoney promises this will raise at least $40 Million up front.  Of this promised $40 Million, $21 Million will be used to plug the 2013 Deficit.

Another $11.6 Million from the "2012 General Fund carryover balance" comes from "one-time sources."  Of course, this begs the question, where will the city find that $32.6 Million for the 2014 budget?  Gee, what would we expect a newly elected City Council sitting on a four year term to do to plug that giant budget hole???

But enough about future tax increases.  Let's talk about the tax increases coming in this budget:

The budget proposes eliminating the property tax rollback, resulting in a 32% increase in City Property taxes.

Live in the City but work outside the city?  Say goodbye to the Municipal Income Tax Reciprocity.  For instance, if you live in the city but work in Blue Ash, you will be paying 3.35% in Municipal income tax.  Aren't you thrilled with the leadership of our fair city?

And how about cuts to services?

Own a business in the city or live in one of those wonderful new apartments at the Banks?  Or in any apartment building with more than 5 apartments?  Guess what?  The City won't be collecting your garbage anymore!  Guess what else? Your rent will be going up to pay for garbage collection.  But don't worry, the City expects to collect a new "solid waste collection fee" of 10% of gross revenues from the people you pay to collect your garbage.  We have to ask this: if you get paid to pick up garbage, aren't all your revenues gross? But seriously, who do you think will be paying that 10% gross revenue fee?  If you said the consumer, go to the head of the class - of course, you might just be leaving the City entirely!

Also cut:
Media Bridges funding is eliminated, as are Arts Grants and the Downtown and Neighborhood Gateways Program.

Feel like staring into the abyss yourself?  Read the whole thing here:

Cincinnati Budget 2013

Chris Seelbach 911 Call

Councilman Chris Seelbach was allegedly assaulted Sunday Monday night outside Mainstay Rock Bar.

We have received further reports that Mr. Seelbach started drinking on Sunday at about 7 pm and was actually cut off at one establishment before making his way to Mainstay.  So when he tells the 911 operator, "I have been drinking, for sure."  We believe him!  For Sure!

In his 911 call he identifies himself as a City Councilman four times in less than one minute.  You don't think he was expecting special treatment do you?

COAST endorses Christopher Smitherman

Cincinnati NAACP President has been transcendent figure in fighting taxes and spending in southwest Ohio

Christopher Smitherman is at his very best fighting taxes and spending

We are not overstating matters at all when we say that the City of Cincinnati is facing its biggest challenges ever in the coming two-year term of City Council. Under the failed leadership of Mayor Mark Mallory, the City has failed to address pronounced structural budget deficits that are now becoming both undeniable and unavoidable.

The reality is that the City must urgently cut spending, or its citizens face a massive earnings tax increase. Cincinnati faces an operating deficit of more than $34 million annually, a pension fund deficit of more than $1 billion, crumbling infrastructure and a dwindling population.

Who better to address these challenges head-on? COAST endorses Christopher Smitherman.

The same media in Cincinnati that has attempted to paint a one-dimensional caricature of Smitherman as a bomb-throwing 60s-style black-power radical, has been fascinated by the coalition built between COAST and the Cincinnati NAACP and the personal friendships that have resulted therefrom.

However, those who understand Smitherman as a whole person see him as a bold leader, a loving father and husband,and a successful entrepreneur who has built his own financial planning practice, using for his business and his clients careful fiscal prudence that Cincinnati so desperately needs.

These characteristics make entirely logical his multiple initiatives to bring responsible tax and spending policies to the region. And they are many:

- Smitherman personally gave life to the fight against the 2007 Super-Sized Jail Tax pushed by liberal democrat commissioners Todd Portune and David Pepper, along with our power-hungry Sheriff. He initiated the historic petition drive that motivated 336 volunteers to gather 56,000 signatures in 43 days. He helped build the www.WeDemandaVote.com coalition that won the Sam Adams Alliance national award for coalition-building. That coalition won against a million dollar campaign for the jail tax -- 56% to 44%.

- The following year, Smitherman launched the successful drive to rid Cincinnati of Red Light Cameras. That initiative has resulted in similar drives in seven Ohio cities.

- The same coalition has implemented a ban on a sale of the WaterWorks -- to ourselves -- for nearly $475 million.

- That same coalition twice has placed on the ballot a Charter Amendment to stop Mayor Mallory's foolish Streetcar project. This year, Smitherman enticed the Police, Firefighters, CODE Labor Union, Baptist Ministers, Westwood Concern and others to join the fight.

- This year, that same coalition placed on the ballot a ban on a Cincinnati trash tax.

Smitherman was the first politician to blow the whistle on the insolvency of Cincinnati's pension system. He has spoken out against other wasteful spending in the City.

Smitherman's critics say that he is simply following COAST's lead on these issues, but that simply is not so. Each of these initiatives originated with Smitherman and his hard-working volunteers at the Cincinnati NAACP.

COAST is not naive enough to think it will always agree with Smitherman -- and it intends to hold him accountable as our newest Council member just like everyone else we back and those we oppose.

However, we know he has (i) the proper fiscal values with which to approach the challenges facing Cincinnati, (ii) the open mind to hear others' points of view and (iii) the tough-minded leadership to boldly take Cincinnati in a new direction. And we know he will not kowtow to the Mallory/Qualls agenda that promises to bankrupt the City in short order.

COASTer acts to stop Quinlivan abuse of tax dollars to fund her campaign

Systematic, pervasive and continuing use of tax dollars challenged

Since she was sworn into office two years ago, Council member Laure Quinlivan started her re-election campaign, using tax dollars and City staff to support it.

When she printed her official City letterhead and business cards, she included a reference on each of www.LQReportingtoYou.com, which is a site paid for by "Quinlivan for Council," and contains campaign materials encouraging the election of Ms. Quinlivan to City Council.

Last November, COASTer Mark Miller wrote to the City Solicitor demanding that he act to stop Quinlivan's abuse of tax dollars to fund her campaign. Upon investigation, the Solicitor reached agreement with Quinlivan to stop using City resources to fund her campaigns and arranged for her to repay the City $644 for this illegal use of tax dollars.

This year, COAST received another tip, that campaign e-mails were originating from her Council offices, and again demanded that the Solicitor act to enjoin this illegal use of City tax dollars to fund her campaigns. The City Solicitor refused, instead marginalizing the misuse of City resources, arranging for Ms. Quinlivan to re-pay the City an insulting 13 cents of misspent City funds.

Interestingly, the Quinlivan e-mails and Quinlivan web site are built on a platform from www.BlueUtopia.Com. As you can see by clicking on Blue Utopia link, the site is "A Powerful and Affordable Campaign System," "Helping Democrats and Progressives at Every Level." In short it is a website devoted to assisting political campaigns, and has no other purpose.

So, COAST did a public records request demanding documentation of the use of the website by City personnel. What he found was astounding. Quinlivan's official City Council office and personnel, paid with City tax dollars, had accessed the site a total of 111,825 KB of data. You can read the report here yourself. Further, we learned that her official City office had accessed www.BlueUtopia.Com more than 2,300 times over a six month period of time (and that's from fewer than 10% of the data that COAST requested.

In short, Quinlivan is running an active City Council campaign, or at least the electronic portions thereof, from her Council offices, costing the taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars in the process.

"This is a systemic, pervasive and continuing misuse of tax dollars that is illegal," said COAST Chairman Jason Gloyd. "It involves not just City computers, City servers, City internet services and City offices, but the misdirection of City staff on City time from their official duties. This is a fundamental breach of the trust that City voters have placed in Quinlivan."

It also happens that the actions of Quinlvan in this regard are illegal. In 2002, COAST conducted a petition drive to insert into the City Charter a provision making the spending of City tax dollars to fund political campaigns illegal. The voters approved that provision and Ms. Quinlivan's actions, even after having been warned against this type of conduct last year, flouts this express Charter provision.

COAST notes that just this week, State Auditor David Yost and Secretary of State Jon Husted proposed making the knowing misuse of tax dollars for campaign purposes a criminal offense.

COASTer Mark Miller sued Quinlivan in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court on Thursday. You can read the entire complaint here. The hearing on the Motion for Temporary Restraining Order is before Judge Steven E. Martin on Monday (today) at 8:30 AM.    

Show City Hall how you feel about the streetcar

Print out and display this poster at your home, office or club.
Boondoggle Poster
Cincinnati will be shovelling your tax dollars into this monster for at least the next thirty years unless we VOTE YES to stop streetcar spending.

Council member Cecil Thomas: Tax Deadbeat

Leading voice at City Hall for tax hikes fails to pay his own property taxes

Cecil Thomas owns this dilapidated property on Reading Road that has a $2,446.36 tax delinquency

In a stunning case of hypocrisy, Council member Cecil Thomas has failed to pay his own property taxes, yet pushes for tax increases on the rest of us at City Hall.

The Hamilton County Auditor's web site shows Council member Thomas and his wife Pamula are the owners of this property located at 4896 Reading Road. Not only is the property poorly maintained, but, according to that web site, Thomas has failed to pay $2,446.36 in taxes owed on the property.

The Auditor's site also shows that Thomas is delinquent in his property taxes on properties he owns at 3885 and 3887 Washington Avenue and 515 and 489 Clinton Springs Avenue. Apparently Mr. Thomas believes that payment of his own taxes are entirely optional.

Thomas has been a consistent proponent of wasteful spending at City Hall (including the streetcar boondoggle), and Council's most outspoken advocate of increased taxes. He repeatedly has called for an increase in earnings taxes on City residents and workers.

Today, City Council votes on whether to raise our property taxes. We have no doubt that Thomas will be one vote in favor of higher property taxes.

We would suggest that before Thomas vote to increase taxes on the hard-working families of Cincinnati to pay for his wasteful spending that he and his wife, who both draw taxpayer-funded salaries, first pay their own property taxes. It's just a thought.

Streetcar barely faster than walking

(man with cane outpacing the streetcar)

An Enquirer investigative report has revealed that the $100 million streetcar project will barely travel faster than a brisk walk. The reporter was able to walk the projected streetcar route in 34 1/2 minutes, not far behind the 28 minutes the streetcar is expected to take. When you factor in waiting time, a fast walk can get you to your destination in roughly the same amount of time as the mighty $100 million streetcar.

Naturally this revelation has caused much consternation in the downtown urbanist community, who as always are crying "bias" at this article, as they do every time an article doesn't completely shill for the streetcar. In response the Enquirer asked its readers to walk the route themselves and post their time. As of the time of this writing, a grand total of one person reported their time. Yet dozens of YP urbanists wrote in to complain about virtually everything. This leads me to wonder, are YP urbanists too lazy to take a 3 mile walk, or are they so out-of-shape they won't even try?

The streetcar's inefficiency is just one of many questions about this project. What is the purpose of spending $100 million on a transportation project for a 3 mile loop that is barely faster than walking? A bus can serve the same purpose at a mere fraction of the cost. And walking, last I checked, is free.

Streetcar wounded, but defiantly soldiers on

 In a show of pointless persistence, second only to the example above, City leaders say the streetcar is still a "go project."

1. (Left arm) Before resigning from Council, former Democratic Jeff Berding appoints Republican Wayne Lippert, who vows to vote against the streetcar until the City gets its finances in order. Council is now comprised of 4 anti-streetcar Republicans, 4 pro-streetcar Democratics, and 1 pro-streetcar Charterite who is a registered Republican and tends to vote that way. However Charterite Bortz is forbidden from having anything to do with the streetcar due to ethical conflicts. Under council rules (PDF Pg 14, #6.6), "on a tie vote, the matter is lost."
   "'Tis but a scratch...I've had worse."
2. (Right arm) ODOT personnel today advised Ohio's TRAC board to reallocate all $51.8 million that had been previously recommended for the streetcar. Two of the ten board members expressed reservations about defunding a project assigned the highest score under the old Molitoris rules. We kindly refer them to PDF page 24 of TRAC's Policy & Procedures, which says, "It should be emphasized that the TRAC process does not require that a selected project have a numeric ranking nor that the TRAC must fund projects in order of their ranking. The ranking is a means to help the TRAC generally prioritize and rank projects in order of their transportation and community/economic development benefits." "It is explicit TRAC policy that projects can be selected regardless of their score, ranking, cost, or functional class. The reason is that no ranking system can completely measure all project attributes. If other factors arise that the TRAC finds important to a project, the TRAC can select the project for funding."
   "Just a flesh wound."
3. (Right leg) The Ohio Senate unanimously passed HB114, the transportation budget, including a provision which “prohibits state or federal funds appropriated by the state from being used for the Cincinnati streetcar project.” The Feds purposely pass funds through the state first so they have recourse for funds recovery should the recipient city go bankrupt. Legislators obviously see the project as something less than a guaranteed money-maker.
   "Right, I'll do you for that...kill yah. ...I'm invincible!"
4. (Left leg) Councilmember Charlie Winburn introduces a "cease and desist" motion in Council to halt all spending and activity on the streetcar. Citing the police/sheriff outsourcing deal as precedent, he reminds the City that when the votes aren't there to see a project through, it's best to abandon it before wasting everybody's time.
   "All right, we'll call it a draw...I'll bite your legs off."

Not dead yet...but it might as well be.

Please thank Governor Kasich for cutting streetcar funding!

Common sense returns to Ohio 

COAST was thrilled to see Mayor Mallory concede today that Governor Kasich is pulling state funding for the Cincinnati streetcar project.  

COAST asks that its members write to Governor Kasich and thank him for this bold, fresh, common sense approach to Ohio's and Cincinnati fiscal challenges.

This decision is a major win for streetcar opponents and is a direct result of your overwhelming grassroots efforts to defeat streetcar funding.  Opponents of the streetcar flooded Ohio's Department of Transportation with more than 2,000 letters and e-mails opposing state funding for this boondoggle.  

Unfortunately, you would think this would be the final nail in the coffin of the ill-conceived streetcar project, but unfortunately it just is not so.   

First, Mayor Mallory continues to lobby federal officials for more streetcar funds.  Second, Mallory told the Enquirer today that he still intends to finish the streetcar project. Finally, perhaps as early as today, Cincinnati City Council plans to vote on accepting state and federal funding for the project (yeah, even if it is going to be yanked).  If they City signs a contract with the federal government for its $25 million grant, it will require the City to operate the streetcar at a loss for 35+ years. 

All of this is in spite of the fact that (i) the City does not have the capital funds to build the project, (ii) the City has no plan and no monies to fund the $10 million operating deficit, and (iii) there already have been more than $15 million in cost overruns identified, all of which must come from the City's general fund.  Finally, only 28% of City residents think the streetcar project is a good idea.

Call your Council member today (352-3000) to ask them to oppose the approval of the acceptance of the state and federal grants. Cecil Thomas (352-3499) seems to be the most on the fence.

Thank you Governor Kasich for saving us from these politicians bent on bankrupting the City.

The Inside Story of the “Ice Cream for Votes” Scandal

Organizing for America (“OFA”) is a project of the Democratic's National Committee that closely coordinates its activities in southwest Ohio with the Ohio Democratic's Party and the Hamilton County Democratic's Party.  The official address for OFA in Hamilton County was Hamilton County Democratic's Party Headquarters.

This is the group which arranged for Cincinnati Public School students to get Graeter’s ice cream in exchange for their votes for Democratics in November’s election.

You are invited to hear the entire story of Democratics' deception on Wednesday, March 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Anderson Government Center, 7850 Five Mile Road, 45230.  Food and drinks will be provided. (Please click here to RSVP)

You will recall the explosion of media that occurred when the Brinkman Campaign discovered this deception in progress.  First it hit the Cincinnati.com web site, next it was placed as a top story on the Drudge Report, then discussion on Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Michael Savage, followed by several FOX NEWS segments.  While the focus of all this media attention stopped the program dead in its tracks, the inside story has never been told.

That will change on March 16^th when lead attorney Christopher P. Finney in the Brinkman et al. v. Cincinnati Public Schools law suit will describe step by step the breath and width of deception in this coordinated effort between “OFA” and Cincinnati Public Schools in their attempt to use recently registered Cincinnati Public School students as pawns in a game to provide votes for Steve Driehaus, Ted Strickland and the entire Democratic's ticket.

2011-02-28 4:11PM Grammatical corrections in red above.

Most voters think streetcar is a bad idea

Streetcar Survey Data

When polled, 2/3 of Cincinnatians said the streetcar is a bad idea. Fully 3/4 of Hamilton County residents hate it too, but don't get to vote on it, even though their tax dollars will be paying for it.

Ohio's Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) recommended [lines 10 + 39] that $51.8 million of your tax dollars be given to the Cincinnati Streetcar.

The state has an $8 BILLION deficit. To fill the shortfall, drastic cuts to schools, universities, Medicaid and public safety are expected. Local levies will seek increases to makeup for state reductions. That's right, your taxes are going up to pay for a streetcar that nobody needs and few people want.

Public comments on TRAC's recommendation are being accepted until 5:00 PM today. If enough people tell them that the streetcar is a bad idea, the money can be saved.

1. CLICK HERE to send your comments to TRAC. A new message will open in your email program. If asked, allow it permission.
2. Fill in your name and mailing address at the bottom of the message.
3. Edit the body of the message to tell them what's most important to you.

Cincinnati homicide rate leads Ohio

Enquirer reports that we led the state last year with 21.6 homicides per 100,000 residents.
Cleveland was 2nd at 18.6.
Columbus was 3rd at 13.7.
Toledo was 4th at 8.2.

Decimating our safety forces to fund a streetcar is obviously premature.

Freedom Center goes back to the teat

The gyrations of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to grab more and more of our tax monies have become more desperate and more dramatic as the finances of the institution spiral downward.  Just in the past two weeks, City Council gave the NURFC yet another $300,000 taxpayer bailout and the NURFC’s renewed drive to become a full-time federal project was revealed.

First, a visit to its 2009 Federal 990 form, a document filed by non-profits and available to the public.  You can get your copy here.  A few highlights from that document:

·         The NURFC (page 9, Part VIII, line 2(a)) had revenue from admissions of only $525,690.  At the $12 adult admission price, that’s a mere 43,807 paying attendees for an entire year.   That’s 120 persons per day.  That’s less than the daily attendance at the basement-dwelling Cincinnati Bengals and fewer persons than the Reds attract to two average homes games.

·         The NURFC saw contributions in 2009 drop by more than half, from $6.1 million in 2008 to $2.3 million in 2009 (page 1, line 8).

·         The NURFC’s investment income dropped in from $1.2 million in 2008 to a loss of $4.3 million in 2009 (page 1, line 10).

·         The NURFC sustained a loss of $12.3 million in 2009 (page 1, line 19).

·         Of its contributions and grants, more than half ($1.182 million came from government grants).

·         The NURFC sustained a net loss on the sale of securities of $4.8 million last year (page 9, Part VIII, line 7(d)).

·         Its cash from the beginning of the year to the end of the year deterioriated from $2.8 million to $700,000 (Page 11, Part X, line 1).

·         The NURFC spent $348,953 on lobbying expenses in 2009 (page 3, Part II-B, line 1(f)).

·         NURFC Executive Director Donald Murphy is taking home a cool $259,419 in salary and benefits for running the place so nicely. 

To date, the total infusion of government cash into the NURFC exceeds $65,000,000.  If you amortize that investment out over 30 years, the useable life of the building, the subsidy per year is $2.167 million per year.  Divided by the estimated 43,800 annual paying attendees, equals a government subsidy of $49.47 for every single man, woman and child that enters the facility.

In late December, astonishingly, Cincinnati City Council voted to give the NURFC another $300,000 from the coffers of a flat-broke City.

And then Friday, the Enquirer reported that, once again, the cash-hemmoraging NURFC is pinning longevity homes on the National Park Service adopting the institution as a federal institution, thus forever freeing the losing proposition from market forces and any semblance of common sense in its operations.

Majority of Cincinnati City Council members have lost their minds

New budget cuts nothing; spends reserves; and adds $300,000 in funding for the Freedom Center

Hopelessly irrational and politically self-serving,
City Council has reached a new low of fiscal insanity

Apparently unable to learn the lessons of fiscal irresponsibility that the world-wide financial meltdown has brought, Cincinnati City Council taken our fair City ever closer to Chapter 9 bankruptcy last night with a series of 5-4 votes.  The Enquirer Editorial Board called the decisions a "recipe for disaster."

For six months or more,Cincinnati City Council has known that it had a $60 million deficit for 2011 (read: spending lots more than they had in income).  The solutions proposed were various combinations of a massive earnings tax increase (by Cecil Thomas), a garbage tax (by Mayor Mallory), or laying off up to 360 municipal workers, including 275 police and firefighters (by Mayor Mallory).

Rather than work to structurally balance the budget and put the City on solid footing going forward, they elected instead to borrow from their own emergency reserves, self-insured health insurance pool, and workers compensation fund, and to count on budget gimmicks that will not pan out.  All this leaves an even deeper deficit for 2012, virtually guaranteeing that a massive tax hike will appear on the ballot that year.

To add insult to injury of Cincinnati taxpayers, a Council majority voted to give the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center an additional $300,000 in capital funding, on top of the more than $65 million in public funding it has already received. COAST has exposed the waste and lies from the Freedom Center  here. Most notably, the Freedom Center promised that once the initial government funds were provided for construction, it would not seek or accept more taxpayer funds for capital or operation needs.  It repeatedly has broken that promise.

The five Council members who voted for this fiscal insanity are:

Roxanne Qualls,  (513) 352-3604

Laure Quinlivan, (513) 352-5303

Cecil Thomas,     (513) 352-3499

Charlie Winburn  (513) 352-5354

Wendell Young,   (513) 352-3466

The Cincinnati Enquirer has an excellent editorial about the depth of irresponsibility undertaken by this Council.

These terrible budget decisions are made, of course, in the context of an unresolved $800 million deficit in the City pension fund and a new $143 million the City has committed to the 3-mile trolley line from the Freedom Center to Corryville. 

COAST is asking its readers to call and write these five council members to express disappointment in their terribly poor decisions made by those entrusted with a fiduciary obligation to the taxpayers and residents of this City.  We are not overstating it when we say that the citizenry has every right to be freightened by this dramatic turn toward fiscal irresponsibility taken by our Council.

Berding lies about Fire Dept. contract expense

Following up Monday's story, COAST again wonders, "are we paying our safety personnel too much?"

What we found is that Cincinnati is already getting amazing “bang for our bucks” when compared to other cities.

The top chart shows our fire service offers the second highest ratio of first responders to population. We are very well protected indeed.

Some other cities elect not to maintain such a high staffing ratio. Those cities use overtime instead to compensate for lack of permanent staff. Unfortunately, this skews their budgets higher.

The bottom chart shows that Cincinnati is 4th lowest in terms of the amount of money we spend per firefighter. These figures are total budget divided by firefighters, including taxes, benefits, training, and department issued gear. Take home pay is much less.

Berding & Council spent the last 2 years buying new windows for City Hall for $5 million, radio recycle bins for $6 million, and “streetcar preparations” for $2.8 million.

Jeff Berding likes to spend your tax money. And he thinks your safety is more frivolous than those things. Tell Jeff to slither back to “the real world.”

Berding bashes union agreement he approved

In reality, both unions have no bonus structure. Their pay, benefits and working conditions are governed by contracts negotiated through a lengthy bargaining process; contracts which Berding himself approved.

The Enquirer reports that “A majority of Cincinnati City Council members say they’ll stop the layoffs of 275 police officers and firefighters if both unions agree to a total of $20 million in concessions.

$20,000,000 in concessions divided by approximately 1700 people means each and every cop and firefighter would give back about $12,000 a year or $1,000 a month. That's an awfully steep price to pay for a streetcar. Would you take that large a pay cut to keep your current job? Or would you move away for a better job?

The same Enquirer article said Council members “talked about it being time for unions to understand their contracts are too lucrative…” Councilmember Bortz said it was time for the unions “to join the real world.”

Is this true? Are we paying our safety personnel too much?

COAST decided to find out.

Using data from The Enquirer, it’s easy to see that Cincinnati’s cost per officer is the lowest of comparable cities. The lowest by far. More than $10,000 lower per officer. We’re already getting a bargain, and if the layoffs stand, our loss is liable to be these other cities’ gain.

Berding & Council have known about the current budget situation for the better part of a year, and maybe two. Yet they spent $5 million on new windows for City Hall, $6 million on radio recycle bins, and $2.8 million on streetcar preparations.

Jeff Berding likes to spend your tax money. And he thinks your safety is more frivolous than those things. Let’s send Jeff back to “the real world.”