I would suggest the only impressionable kids we have to protect are on the City Council or some of those who still live in a make believe world of the 1950s that never really existed? I am sure from talking to many you who have lived here for decades that Vienna in its day was small town America at its best. Could leave the doors unlocked; windows open and maybe even Aunt Jane's homemade pie on the ledge and still be able to enjoy it that evening? But that was true in many, many places and they are all gone now except in our memories. Mayberry was never one of them.
Folks are not stupid just made to think they are when an event goes bad somewhere in our City. A drug bust; sometimes DUI and or domestic violence issue as happened on the 22d of June. And of course the seldom but not non existent shooting some weeks back by one brother on another. Stuff happens folks; some we can help to stop; others we cannot.
See where MAYBE someone at the BOE is listening and thinking? The plan to consolidate two "very important" positions; those being the Deputy Superintendent and the Director of Secondary Schools into one. Sounds like an attempt to get one person a 40 hour work week? Now if they can reduce those salaried and benefits accordingly, the BOE should save I would think about $120K in salary and benefits? Maybe less; maybe more but in this day and age of more, more and more; anything is a plus. But don't be surprised to see the difference divvied up among the rest as is the habit in the County when someone leaves? But, I am forever hopeful somewhere, somehow, there will be a true attempt to save the Taxpayers some bucks?
It is 3:25 PM on the 28th and the Fireworks are starting to go off. How long to the first injury and the first fire? Properly used a great experience; stupidly used injury and mayhem.
I noted months ago the move to implement a "Home Rule" for the Counties was not far off. And as I expected, it is now in the works led by no other than our very own Wood County Commission. They cry and wring their hands at the expense of the Regional Jail Bills as it continues to climb. Now Budgeted at a cool $2 Million for the upcoming Fiscal Year is running at almost $200K/ month. I am not very smart and will be the first one to admit it so I am failing to see how $200K/ month x 12= $2,400,000 will be even close?
Now this is being prompted by encouraging ALL 55 of the Counties to pursue the 1% Sales Tax that just happens to go with this County Home Rule Program. I will admit that considering the terrible damages from the recent flooding are going to be tough to fix; especially in a State that is damned poor and on its way to damned dirt poor. But if the folks are hurting so bad now and no end in sight for that, how can they pony up the 1% for more of the Cities and the Counties too? This on top of a possibly increased State Tax from 6% to ???
Now as I said before, I am not very smart, but would be willing to bet our very own smooth as silk talking Commissioner, one Blair Couch is front and center on this deal? Remember him as the talking head on how concerned he was for the Retirees on fixed incomes when the Fire Board Tax; Claywood PSD and Lubeck PSD Rate increases all got approved with nary a whimper after the fact? This guy is as slippery as an eel for tax increases. Why you ask? Because they are ALL groundwork for the County Commission to do exactly what is going on now; raise County Taxes under the musical lyrics of "how broke we are".
I will say again and again; if they can or will not collect what is already due them; then no right to go and impose a new one. No right to give a penny in wage/ benefit increases or payments to any of the County Employees. Charity is said to start at home; but so does Tax Collecting. I still see the same four Ohio plated cars wandering around each day/ night. And with an estimated 700 being "watched" for a lawful conversion, maybe time to get off some large derrieres and hit the bricks with the citation books? It is not just the 700 x $100/ vehicle = $70,000/ year; it is the State Income Tax returns being filed and maybe more into the State/ County cash drawers? And the $100 bucks seeing some of these rigs is a very low estimate of what that individual vehicle will really be taxed at?
This is the same low down trick pulled in Vienna when Mr. Rapp talked about how the 12, that's right 12 dilapidated houses/ properties would be removed/ renovated; the huge spills from wrecks of all kinds of liquids would be cleaned up by tow trucks that currently just left Dodge (Vienna), and returned to the nearby rolling hills and plains of Ohio. Our very streets and roads dissolving before our eyes.
It was then in Vienna all about the 1% Sales Tax and is now all about the 1% Sales Tax for the Counties. Don't all just drink the snake oil and sigh in contentment because it tastes like more of the same Kool-Aid that was fed to Vienna and other Cities. Different flavors maybe, but still the same.
Now when this thing hits the Legislature, let us watch our very own Mr. Kelly, Mr. Deem and even Mr. Azinger the Younger on how they vote for this new Tax?
Collect what is due; use it wisely; restrain the constant spend, spend and more spend only as is truly necessary. We ALL know it is going to get a lot darker before the dawn in this State. But even when Dawn does arrive, if the taxes are in place, they ain't going away, even then.
I can NOT do a thing about County/ State Tax increases. But will as I said, work on the City just as I promised plus a dozen other improvements. 'nuff said'.
(Paid for by the Candidate- Lawrence J. Wilson for Mayor of Vienna).