COAST Endorses Trolley Petition Drive

Effort prevents streetcars without a public vote.

COAST has joined Christopher Smitherman and the NAACP in their drive to stop Council’s planned $120 million trolley plan serving only downtown, Over-the-Rhine and Clifton with a petition drive for a charter amendment. The Charter Amendment will prevent Council from spending monies on passenger rail transportation without a public vote. The Business Courier covered the NAACP effort here.

Mark Miller becomes the first COAST signer of the
petition to stop the wasteful trolley proposal.
“Over-priced and inefficient passenger rail transportation will be a bottomless pit of tax dollars,” said COAST Chairman Jason Gloyd. “We are proud to once again join the NAACP in stopping foolish policies of our local government officials.”

The trolley charter amendment is the fourth proposal of the WeDemandAVote.Com coalition in three years. Two other proposals, the jail tax referendum and a charter amendment banning red light cameras, passed with COAST help in 2007 and 2008.

COAST Holds Three Membership Meetings

Please join us and bring a friend.

COAST is hosting a series of membership meetings in Janaury and February to bring the message of limited government and lower taxes to all corners of Southwest Ohio. The schedule is as follows:

Please join us, and bring a friend, to one or more of these events:

EAST SIDE
The east side event will be held on
Monday, January 19, 2009
6:30pm
Molly Malone's Irish Pub
6111 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45213

WEST SIDE
The west side event will be held on
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
6:30 pm
Babe's Café
3389 Glenmore Avenue, Cheviot, OH 45211

NORTH COAST
The North COAST event will be held on
Monday, February 2, 2009
6:30 pm
Village Heritage Green Clubhouse
9475 Old Village Drive, Loveland, OH 45140

Owners Slammed by Huge Property Tax Bills

Rising rate and assessments combine for double whammy.
Property owners throughout southwest Ohio are experiencing sticker shock upon opening their latest property tax bills. The dramatic increase in property tax bills is attributable to both an increase in property valuations and an increase in tax rates. A chart showing the increase in commercial property tax rates in the Cincinnati Public School District is below.

This graph shows the growth in commercial/industrial property tax rates in Hamilton County/Cincinnati Public School District over 25 years, from a rate of 49 mills to more than 76 today. If these trends hold for the coming 25 years, our children will pay tax rates of more than 92 mills in 2034.

Overall, Hamilton County experienced an increase in property values for both residential and commercial property. Some areas experienced dramatic increases. For example, Auditor assessments in Oakley increased by 16 to 17 percent. At the same time, many areas of the County experienced significant increases in rates of taxation. Property tax rates in the Cincinnati Public School District went up a total of 14%, despite significantly reduced enrollment. This is due to the massive CPS tax increase that passed in March.

The combined effect of these two factors meant, for example, that many Oakley property owners experienced increases of more than 30% from their prior tax bills.

COAST attorneys are hosting a series of property tax reduction seminars in January and February. Details are here.

Bortz Opposes Bloated City Budget

Editorial hits Council democrats for wasteful spending.

In a bizarre procedural move, Cincinnati City Council passed its 2009 budget in December, and then later passed a second budget adding $917,000 in surprise spending without any public input or debate. Councilmember Bortz criticized liberal Council members for the wasteful, backdoor spending maneuver in this Enquirer guest editorial.

According to Bortz, “[t]he added spending was, in part, for more money for council and mayor staff; a neighborhood garden program; a raise for city workers; and new staff to advocate for cutting meat consumption, cold-water washing and air-drying of dishes - all paid for by increasing parking fines in our business districts and tapping the city's emergency reserves.”

The Enquirer later hammered the wasteful office spending here.

Freedom Center Again Reports Bloated Executive Salaries

Lays off 17 in December

In November, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center released its 2007 federal income tax return showing that its top two executives earned salary and benefits of more than $546,842 in 2007. Less than a month later, the NURFC, facing a 28% budget shortfall, laid off 17 of its 64 full-time employees. Read the Business Courier story of the layoffs here.

According to the tax return, its CEO Donald Murphy earned $282,720 in salary and benefits in 2007, an increase of 4% over his $272,000 package in 2006. Its President, Spencer Crew, who left the employ of the NURFC in 2007, raked in $264,122. You may view the NURFC 2007 income tax return here.

COAST reported here that, according to those same tax returns, attendance revenue for all of 2007 was only $735,125. The Business Courier reports that the NURFC’s 2009 operating budget is $5.8 million.

COAST takes Red Light Camera fight to Toledo

57 Toledoans show for initial organizing meeting

Last Monday, COAST Board member and legal counsel Chris Finney traveled to Toledo to bring petitions banning red light cameras to this northern Ohio City. COAST will be joined in the effort by representatives from the Republican Party, the Libertarian Party, and Americans for Prosperity – Ohio.

The Toledo Blade took note of the meeting here. Later, they blasted the COAST initiative here. COAST wears their scorn with pride, and as an indication it is on the right track. The Blade has been a lead cheerleader for the left-leaning state and local policies and politicians that have decimated Toledo families, the economy and community.

Read more about the COAST visit to Toledo here.

Northern Kentucky Anti-tax Group Digs In

Organizers of the campaign to defeat a parks tax in Boone County have decided to continue their organization against expanded government and higher taxes in northern Kentucky. Read the Kentucky Enquirer story on the organization here. For more information on the Kentucky group, contact COASTer Mike Moreland at (859) 816-1314 or bluegill1@insightbb.com.

Now, a Government-paid Cell Phone

A new fundamental right to tax dollars emerges.

We know it sounds inconceivable, but a new government program now assures those on the public dole the right to a taxpayer-funded cell phone. We are not kidding. Read about it here.

Charlie Norman Appointed Cheviot Treasurer

We salute COASTer, and former Cheviot City Councilman, Charlie Norman, who has been appointed Cheviot Treasurer by Republican precinct executives. He replaces Paul Dorenkemper who is retiring after more than four decades of service.

"It's an honor to follow one of this city's most distinguished public servants," he said, "Paul's dedication to Cheviot is truly exemplary."

Norman served on city council from 2002 through 2007, and will now serve as Treasurer through the remainder of Dorenkemper's term which expires Dec. 31. He will then decide whether to run for reelection this November.

While a councilman, Charlie chaired the Finance and Building & Annexation Committees, and spearheaded efforts to combat nuisance properties.

He was sworn in as City Treasurer on Jan. 6th.

"I'm eager to get to work managing the city's finances," he said, "These are challenging financial times, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on council and in the administration over the next year to make sure the city is on solid financial ground."