By Steve Huffman, Citizen of Tipp City
The Citizens for a Strong Tipp City recent Ohio Campaign Finance Report reveals that the vast majority of their campaign contributions are from business that do business with the city and not the citizens of Tipp City. These businesses have a direct interest in this tax increase so that they can continue to gain financially with the business they currently do and increased potential if this tax increase passes. Less than one percent all money came from a citizen of Tipp City that is not a Tipp City Employee, Lawrence Reisser donated $50.00. One business from Tipp, Tipp Top Canning, donated $350.00. Employees from Tipp City donated $1,150.00, this included donations from the city manager and two of the current city council members that voted for the tax increase. Fire Chief Kessler was the biggest contributor of all Tipp City employees as he donated $500.00.
More interesting are the people that have not financially supported the Citizens for a Strong Tipp City. No one on the Capital Improvement Committee except Lawrence Reisser has contributed to the Citizens for a Strong Tipp City. The Co-Chairman of the Citizens for a Strong Tipp City have also not contributes any money but have contributed a lot of time. It appears that Mr. McDermott’s business Bash Foo Social Media has donated space for ads on Tipp News and for the web site Tipp Tax. These would be in-kind-donations that are required to be reported but may come with the next filing. Council members Hale and Kessler who voted for the tax increase have not contributed either. Waste Management which was reported by the Tipp Gazette as contributor was also not on the list.
It appears the Citizens for a Strong Tipp City may be a misleading name. It appears that almost no contributions come from the citizens of Tipp City but from big business outside Tipp City that have their own financial interest in this tax increase. One donation from a citizen is form from strong support from the citizens of Tipp City. This tax increase will be voted on May 3rd and if approved would increase the Capital Improvement Fund by 250% from previous budgeted levels. This report was filed with the election board on 4/20/11 and signed by the treasurer Ronald Manis. There was no filing from any group or committee that opposed this tax increase.
Tipp City Businesses
Tipp Top Canning $350.00
Total $350.00
Business that do business with the City of Tipp City
Dayton Pool Management, Dayton $750.00
Choice One Engineering Corp, Sidney, Ohio $500.00
Gateway Center Development, Sidney, Ohio $300.00
DLZ Ohio, Columbus, Ohio $500.00
Fifth Third Securities $1,000.00
John R. Jurgensen Company, Cincinnati Ohio $500.00
Berry Logan Properties, Troy $100.00
Total $3,650.00
Employees of the City of Tipp City
Steve Kessler, Fire Chief $500.00
Doloris Gillis, Mayor of Tipp City $50.00
Brad Vath, Assistant City Manager Tipp City $75.00
George Lovett, Council Member $200.00
John Skolnicki, Tax Department Supervisor $100.00
Scott Vagedes, City Engineer $100.00
Jon Crusey, City Manager $100.00
Christy Butera, City Employee $30.00
Total $1,155.00
Tipp City Citizens
Lawrence Reisser $50.00
Total $50.00
Grand Total $5,205.00
