Glass City Jungle

Teamwork Toledo to Oppose Garbage Tax Increase

Teamwork Toledo members Kevin Milliken, Tricia Lyons and John Adams, Jr. will hold a press conference to call on Toledo City Council to once again reject the mayor’s request for an increase in the monthly trash fee. This time, two council members—who are also running to retain their seats—have submitted a proposal to make the tax increase more palatable through “recycling rewards.”

“There is never a good time to raise taxes on Toledo’s citizens—and now is certainly the worst time to even consider it,” said Milliken. “Add to that a new proposal that makes city government even bigger—with more rules, regulations, and red tape—and it’s just even worse idea. Show some leadership, go back to the drawing board, make the tough choice, and make the cuts necessary to balance the budget like we all do at home.”

Teamwork Toledo consists of five independent, first-time candidates: 30 and 40-something professionals and small business owners, like-minded individuals who want to reclaim city government on behalf of its citizens. Teamwork Toledo is a group of fiscal conservatives with a social conscience.

Teamwork Toledo stands for three basic principles: no new taxes, back-to-basics government, and a business-friendly community. Teamwork Toledo seeks to restore a common-sense approach to city government.

WHO: Teamwork Toledo Members
WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: Sunday, August 9 2009, noon
WHERE: One Government Center
WHY: Oppose “Incentivized” Garbage Tax Increase

Updated with full comments from today’s press conference:

(Tricia)

Thank you for coming this afternoon.

The purpose of this press conference is to call on Toledo City Council once again to reject the mayor’s call for an increase in the monthly trash tax.

This time, two council members—Joe McNamara and Steve Steel, who also are running to retain their seats—have submitted a proposal to make such a tax increase more palatable through a so-called “recycling rewards” program.

Their mantra—Toledoans can earn more money back than their shelling out in a tax increase…IF local grocery stores and businesses offer discounts and rewards. That’s a big IF in this economy.

Toledoans already have an incentive to recycle…the current trash tax costs them less if they sort their paper, glass, and cans—and take it out of the waste stream.

Now, two of their elected representatives want to change the rules of the game mid-way through—by raising that same fee…and making citizens work even harder to see any incentive.

Let’s reduce another waste stream instead. Cut city government waste some more—reach for the budget book again and take another look to find the eight million dollars needed–instead of trying to reach into our wallets again.

(John)

This issue goes right to the heart of Teamwork Toledo’s platform—no new taxes.

Toledo City Council, to its credit, has drawn a line in the sand and resisted the mayor twice already on his proposed tax increases.

Hold that line—and do it a third time. Don’t slip into the quicksand of politics—and let that line get redrawn.

In fact, we believe it would be political suicide for a council flip-flop now—with at least four of them up for re-election.

A trash tax increase is the EASY way out—and would only send a message to citizens that it’s the same, old tired politics of the past.

Simply put, JUST SAY NO—again. Send a different message to citizens this time—that you’re actually listening…and doing the will of the people.

(Kevin)

There is never a good time for to raise taxes on Toledoans. Now, during an economic downtown, is certainly the worst time to even consider it. Add to that a new proposal that would make city government even bigger—with more rules, regulations, and red tape—and it’s just more reason to reject it.

(Hold up wallet) Toledoans only have to look in their wallets to see two things: one, there’s no cash left to pay for an increase in the trash tax.

(Get out reward cards) Number two, many already have enough reward cards to get cheaper groceries.

Show some leadership: go back to the drawing board, make the tough choices, and vote for the cuts necessary to balance the budget like we all do at home or at our businesses.

We’ll even make a suggestion to get you halfway to your goal: meet with the Metroparks…and find a way to end the duplication of services in maintaining our community’s parks. The city is spending four million dollars each year on parks and recreation.

Taxpayers are funding them to the tune of four TIMES that amount annually. For the greater good of our community, there MUST be some common ground there—why do we need two sets of mowers, managers, and maintenance staff?

It’s an idea Teamwork Toledo proposed several weeks ago…and it fell on deaf ears.

The idea solves other problems, too. Take that millions in savings, HIRE A NEW FIRE CLASS to cut the city’s overtime problem, then use that savings, in turn, to hire back ALL 75 police officers, not just 31. (We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.)