Cincinnati’s Budget Situation Grows More Desperate

Cole, Harris creating fiscal crisis to justify tax hike
New Council member Greg Harris
has chosen to join Council coalition
spending Cincinnati into a $40 million hole

The budgetary mess created by City Council played out as fully expected over the past few weeks when four City labor unions rejected proposed furloughs that would have saved $4.2 million this year.

In June, Budget Committee Chairman Laketa Cole led a slim Council majority to patch the City’s $20 million budget hole by spending reserves down by $10 million, and claimed budget cuts of another $10 million including the entirely illusory savings from furloughs. Council violated its own rules requiring six votes to raid the reserves in order to continue the irresponsible spending unabated.

The rejection of the furlough days by the labor unions means that Council implemented less than $5.8 million in cuts for 2009, to fill the $20 million hole. COAST and Councilmember Chris Bortz reported here and here that the City is avoiding substantive budget cuts and inevitably preparing the City for a massive 2010 tax increase. The City administration has projected a shortfall of $40 million for next year.

COAST has asked Council candidates to take a pledge against raising taxes or imposing new fees during the coming Council term. To date, Council members Chris Monzel and Leslie Ghiz have taken the pledge along with challengers Charlie Winburn, George Zamary and Amy Murray.

Trolley petition drive success!

NAACP, COAST notch 4th ballot issue in three years

In a display of almost unimaginable fiscal irresponsibility, City Council is pressing forward with plans for a $185 million trolley system extending only four miles (and perhaps up the hill to Clifton, if that’s possible) in the midst of the City’s budget crisis. In response, Cincinnati’s WeDemandAVote.Com coalition has collected more than 12,000 signatures to place the issue on the ballot.

“Once again, the unique partnership between the NAACP and COAST has borne fruit,” said COAST Chairman Jason Gloyd. “Together, we have forced to a vote on the massively unpopular policies of our irresponsible elected officials.”

The WeDemandAVote.Com coalition includes the NAACP, COAST, the Green Party of Southwest Ohio and the Libertarian Party of Ohio.

As a result of this year’s effort, voters will have a chance to vote on a Charter Amendment on the November 4 ballot to force a public vote on all passenger rail capital expenditures of the City.

Luken, Enquirer Shine Spotlight on Wasteful Riverfront Transit Center

SORTA defends enormous misuse of public monies

"Cincinnati's Other Abandoned Subway"

Usually, true stories about wasted government money and misplaced priorities are better than we could make up. This is one of those. Right under our noses, our elected officials have squandered more than $42 million on a subway station that has sat empty for six years, and has no prospects for use in the coming five years. Former Congressman Luken has shined the spotlight on this profligate waste of public monies, including asking for an investigation by Ohio’s Inspector General.

In 2003, with great fanfare, elected officials from City, County, State and Federal governments cut the ribbon on the Cincinnati Riverfront Transit Center – extending from Great American Ballpark to Paul Brown Stadium on Cincinnati’s riverfront. The project is a 316,628 square foot leviathan designed to serve 500 buses per hour, heavy or light rail trains, complete with tiled floors and walls, mosaic murals and elevators, escalators, restrooms and staircases. The public can get a glimpse of the Center from the out-of-place and unused “subway-style” entrances near Great American Ballpark and the other waste of money on Cincinnati’s Riverfront – the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Photos of the white elephant are here.

Today, due to construction defects, disuse and leaks, the structure is falling into disrepair and rusting. Since its opening it has hardly ever been used, and yet SORTA officials defend its construction. Exactly what evidence would they need to concede this project is an abject failure?

COAST suggests ever so gently that maybe, just maybe, this type of spending orgy could be averted if the current anti-boondoggle Charter Amendment had been in place before 2002.

Senator Kearney: 65% of City Voters Are Against Council’s Trolley Proposal

Trolley backers’ poll numbers slip out

Click pic for larger view.

COAST has learned that Trolley backers commissioned a poll of public sentiment for the proposed Trolley this past spring and concluded that 65% are opposed. Is anyone surprised? The poll results have recently been leaked by State Senator Eric Kearney (ehk009).

City Hires Project Team for Trolley

Dohoney hires same engineer that planned and implemented epic failure -- Riverfront Transit Center

Parsons Brinckerhoff is the preferred City vendor
for money-wasting projects

Ignoring public opinion, its own budget crisis and the pending vote on the fate of the Trolley, the City recently announced the hiring of the project team for the $185 million trolley system.

COAST finds it more than an item of curiosity that the project team is led by the Engineering firm of Parsons Brinckerhoff, and its local executive Fred Craig. While researching the epic failure of the Riverfront Transit Center investment, COAST learned that that debacle was planned and implemented by none other than Parson Brinckerhoff and local executive Fred Craig.

Parsons Brinckerhoff financed and helped to run the 2002 campaign for a ½ cent sales tax increase for a light rail system running from downtown to Mason, and this year is helping to finance and run the campaign against the Trolley petition before it even rises to ballot position.

NAACP, AFSCME Place Waterworks Sale On the Ballot

Why would we pay $475 million for something we already own?

City Council remains coy during this election year
on sale of asset owned by taxpayers

Really, do politicians think we are stupid enough to stand for paying $475 million in higher water rates for assets we already own?

For months now, COAST has been questioning the proposal by City Manager Dohoney to transfer the assets of the Cincinnati Waterworks to a new Regional Water District, and charge the new entity and its ratepayers (that’s us!) $475 million for the asset transfer. City Council members remain coy about whether they will approve the plan.

The NAACP and the municipal workers labor union – AFSCME – have gathered enough signatures to force the asset transfer to a public vote.

COAST has not yet taken a formal position on the Waterworks Petition, but is deeply skeptical of charging ratepayers $475 million for something they already own, and entrusting our entirely untrustworthy Council with that kind of additional money.

City manager Milton Dohoney admitted in a speech in June before the NAACP that the City is pursuing the plan simply “because we need the money.” COAST gently suggests maybe stopping its profligate waste of tax resources might be a better approach.

COAST will take a formal position about endorsing the Waterworks proposal at its September endorsement meeting. All COAST members (paid memberships) will be polled before such endorsement.

Red Light & Speeding Cameras in Full Retreat Throughout Ohio

COAST, AFP team up to kill bad idea statewide

In 2008, Cincinnati became first major City to ban red light cameras in its Charter.

COAST and Americans for Prosperity’s Ohio Chapter have achieved more progress in their goal to eradicate red light and speeding cameras throughout Ohio.

Here’s a rundown:

• In Toledo, COAST sent local organizer Scott Ross to Toledo to spearhead the conclusion of the petition drive there. The petition drive is more than half way to conclusion and is proceeding well. COASTers Chris Finney, Dan Regenold and Kim Grant took a road trip to Toledo to help boost the effort.
• Governor Strickland’s initiative to place speeding cameras on State highways was stripped from the state budget bill.
• The City of Canton rejected Red Light Cameras in March of this year after opponents exposed the Mayor for accepting contributions from RedFlex, the company that installs and operates the devices.
• With COAST’s help, the close-knit community of Heath Ohio has launched a Charter Amendment to strike down Council’s implementation of a Red Light Camera program there.
• COAST traveled to Pickerington (south of Columbus) earlier this year to fight Red Light Cameras. Under threat of a Charter Amendment petition drive the Council there abandoned plans for Red Light Cameras in that City.
• COAST is working on organizing a 2010 drive in Dayton against Red Light Cameras. Local volunteers are enthusiastic in their support.

Winburn Disavows Current Council

Doesn't want to be associated with this bunch

Former City Council Member and current Council hopeful Charlie Winburn has been informed that his campaign materials could be confusing to some voters. Winburn says that a Democrat friend told him that due to the simple omission of the word "FOR" in front of "CITY COUNCIL," some are accusing him of attempting to mislead voters into thinking that he currently serves on Council.

Despite having discussed the issue with staff at the Hamilton County Board of Elections who raised no concern, Winburn will immediately make the changes for the sake of clarity and utmost integrity of his campaign.

“While the change may seem small and insignificant to the vast majority of people,” Winburn explained, “some members of City Council may take this opportunity to again leave the City’s concerns to manage themselves, and continue to worry with trivial matters like this.”

And as a result of the changes, the Winburn for Council Campaign has instructed all staff members as well as appropriate volunteers to return any and all materials as they await a new and updated order.

“Under no circumstances would I want Cincinnati voters to associate me with the current Democrat-controlled City Council, one that has created many of our city's problems through their mismanagement of the budget and retirement fund, and their misguided city projects such as the downtown street car,” said Winburn. “The suggestion that I would want to deceive anyone to think that I'm currently serving alongside them is laughable. It is more than worth it to make this change.”

Freedom Center Funding Killed in Ohio Senate

Republican senators stand firm against wasteful proposal

COAST stopped NURFC dead in its tracks in seeking an additional $3.1 million State of Ohio operating subsidy

COAST’s calls and e-mails have worked: the Ohio Senate stripped $3.1 million in additional spending for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center from the state’s budget bill.

“COASTers calls and letters worked,” said COAST Chairman Jason Gloyd. “Thanks to those who wrote their senators. And COAST especially want to thank Senate President Bill Harris and Clermont County Senator Tom Niehaus for their leadership in killing this wasteful spending. The NURFC promised not to accept tax money for its operations and we want to help them to keep that promise.”

The final budget bill also stripped the Ohio House’s implementation of speeding cameras on State Highways.

Hamilton County representatives Connie Pillich (D-Montgomery), Denise Driehaus (D-Delhi), Dale Mallory (D-Cincinnati) and Tyrone Yates (D-Cincinnati) all supported the House version of the budget bill that included the two bad ideas from the Governor.

Hamilton County Faces Another Round of Budget Cuts

Will Commissioners (finally) cut their nine-member staff?

David Pepper struggles to balance our County's budget. He repeatedly fails to lead by example, forcing you to suffer all the cuts. Not the right stuff to be our State Auditor.

The Enquirer reported Monday that the Hamilton County Commission is facing even more severe budget problems as a result of out-of-control spending outstripping income.

As COAST reported in December, two decades ago, when the County population was 50% higher than it is today, the three County Commissioners had a total of one staffer between them. Today, that number is nine. Back then, the Commissioners voted to lay off dozens of Sheriff’s deputies, but refused to cut even one position from their bloated personal staffs.

Will the liberal democrat County Commissioners finally cut the fat in their own budget? COAST seriously doubts it.

Sheriff Si Leis Gets His $99,000 Yacht

Vacillating Pepper casts key vote for Sheriff’s new toy
This new boat for the Sheriff
is the fifth in his growing fleet

After weeks of indecision and hand wringing, County commissioners ignored a huge public outcry and voted 2-1 to give the Sheriff his new $99,000 boat to patrol the Ohio river, 75% of which is located in the state of Kentucky.

Commissioner David Pepper first indicated he was for the boat, then said he was against it, and then said he was undecided. He finally voted in favor of giving the Sheriff his new toy at the expense of the taxpayers.

“Now that’s some leadership,” said COAST Chairman Jason Gloyd. “David Pepper who grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth clearly fails to understand the value of a dollar. Apparently, wasting $99,000 in the midst of a budget crisis does not seem to be a big deal to him.”

Joining Pepper in the vote to waste the $99,000 was Commissioner Todd Portune who has made a career of soaking the taxpayers and wasting tax dollars. Both have had a hard time saying “no” to the rapacious Sheriff.

This humorous site, Republicans for Higher Taxes, thinks Si deserves his new toy.

Citizen Stands Up to Public Golf Course Operators

Paul Macke takes it upon himself to fight City Hall

COAST noted this story about a courageous and industrious citizen who wants privately-operated municipal golf courses to pay taxes like the rest of us. COST salutes Paul Macke for fighting City Hall!