As a new capital improvement tax is being considered by City Council, we hear much of a drive towards parity. Tipp City residents seek out an unquestionable equity on what they pay in taxes in comparison to others.
We know that there are a great deal of Tipp residents that work in other Miami Valley cities that pay far more in local taxes than those who work in Tipp, yet we hold it against them that they have not paid their fair share to live here. The most notable example was the 2010 failed attempt of City Council to legislate away the 100% tax credit that is currently provided to those who work elsewhere. While talk of “fair share” made sense here, those who work in Dayton (and pay 2.75%) have a wallet that already feels that they have paid their allotment of local tax. Residents in an uproar caused Council members Kessler and Lovett to retract their proposed and seconded resolution. Residents felt that they should either not have to pay two local taxes, or that if they did, Council should leave it up to the people to decide their own tax fate.
10 Year CIP Committee Recommendation
The latest attempt to raise a local tax originated from a commission of residents appointed by Council that recommended an immediate change in spending on capital plan items such as fire, EMS and roads that have in their opinion been long neglected by city staff and Council. The recommendation would provide a rapid turnaround to our failing roads and bridges as well as provide continued funding for capital items such as snow plows, lawn mowers, utilities vehicles, fire and EMS.
On Expediency and Effectiveness
Funding considerations (read: taxes) that provide small additional amounts of money over time require the City to provide long term financing for projects that they consider. In fact, the initial solutions proposed included 20 year financing windows. That would mean that the roads that we repave in 2011 will be paid for in 20 years, yet will have to be repaired in just 15 years. Not a fiscally responsible solution.
10 Year Solution for a 10 Year Bogey
The CIP committee looked at funding requirements for 10 years and eliminated almost $3 million in fatty “like to have” projects. The 10 year, .25% additional will fund 10 years of projects within a 10 year timeframe, allowing voters in 10 years to say “Hey that .25% capital improvement tax was a great idea, our roads are paved and our City services were maintained at current levels” or “We need to get rid of this oppressive tax, the City has way too much money, look at those gold plated police cruisers and valet parking at the Aquatic Center!” The shortened payoff period also allows the City to shave off almost $900,000 in interest payments to lenders.
A responsible government is one that can live within its means while continuing to provide a sufficient level of services that promote both the basic and desired needs* of the Community.
*note that I did not say needs and wants.
An Era of Subsistence
There was nothing extravagant in the 10 year Capital Improvements Plan, nothing that would promote more businesses to move to Tipp City, nothing that would attract more residents (unless paved streets are an attractive feature to new residents) to live here. Just a subsistent level of Police, Fire, EMS, Utilities and Road repairs. No new roads, no new construction, no new jobs.
Most families and businesses that are not in decline mode are in subsistence mode. They refuse to take on additional projects, hire employees, take vacations, build a deck or renovate the kitchen.
An Era of Decline
The quantity of “lane miles” in Tipp City in disrepair are large and growing. ODOT recommends a re-pavement schedule of 10-12 years. Most of our residential streets are at least 15 years old, and the oldest are more than 35 years old. Some lack storm drainage and flood in the spring. While no members of the CIP committee were excited about the recommendation of putting a tax on the ballot in May, the spirited consensus that was reached was that we did not want our city to decline due to our inaction. No one wanted to recommend closing roads that were unsafe, pay the City of Troy to fight our fires or ask the Sheriff’s department to deal with domestic disputes or crime within the City limits. Decline is not something you aim for, however it is something you find yourself in when you fail to act with reason and purpose.
As found on http://areyouvotingfor.me
