District 2 Newsletter from Councilman Collins…Mayor has no interest in ERIP
You can read the complete newsletter, here in pdf format as received via e-mail from District 2 Toledo City Councilman D. Michael Collins. Some excerpts from the newsletter are shared below:
Update on the City of Toledo’s Current Budget Deficit and Proposed Budget for 2010
Both the city charter and state of Ohio require that Toledo City Council pass a balanced budget by March 31, 2010. As you may know, former Mayor Finkbeiner presented his Administration’s balanced budget last November, and current Mayor Bell submitted his Administration’s revised budget to Council on March 1, 2010. As I write this today, Council has less than 30 days to hold budget hearings for each city department and also evening community meetings to discuss the budget with citizens and hear input on ideas and suggestions to balance the budget.
Mayor Bell has challenged Council members that if we vote no on any of his suggestions, we should be prepared to offer alternatives. I have done just that! I do not support his refuse fee proposal, I do not support the elimination of the income tax credit and I do not support the entertainment tax. I presented the Mayor a suggestion to create an early retirement incentive plan. Today, Deputy Mayor Herwat informed me that Mayor Bell has no interest in exploring this possibility to reduce our operating expenses and help balance the budget. He further stated that he feels there is no assurance the City can save dollars in 2010. I totally disagree!
The City of Toledo has very serious challenges and the stakes are high, however the cost of loosing our city to fiscal emergency will be devastating.
Share your thoughts with me, won’t you?
I ask for your assistance to help me understand your priorities by sharing with me your thoughts on how Council should create a balanced budget that addresses the fundamental issues of our city, while remaining fiscally responsible. If you would like to share ideas about ways the city can save money, or generate revenue, please call me at City Council at 419‐245‐1050, or email me at dmichael.collins@toledo.oh.gov.
Transition to Solid Waste Automation
By now, all District 2 residents should have received their new refuse and recycling containers. To implement this transition in the dead of winter has been challenging to say the least. The challenges of the elements combined with the challenges of change have made for a less than desirable experience for some. Having said that, the employees in our Division of Solid Waste have been very responsive to constituent concerns and, in my opinion, have exhibited nothing but commitment and professionalism.
Over 80% of the cities our size are using automation as the preferred and most cost‐effective method of waste and recycling collection. I believe that by mid‐year the efficiencies that automation provides will be considered a value added and our community will have a positive experience as a result of this change.
Bowsher High School Students Volunteer to Assist Seniors and Disabled with Refuse and Recycling Containers
On March 1, 2010, I met with Bowsher High School Principal Larry Black and Student Shana Nelson, to discuss their idea of Bowsher students assisting neighborhood seniors and disabled with the placement of refuse and recycling containers to the curb for collection, as well as return.
This volunteer program will be implemented and coordinated by Bowsher. This truly speaks to the quality of students at Bowsher High School and I am very thankful and proud of the fact that these students have recognized a need and are reacting to it in a very positive way. To sign‐up for this program, please call Principal Larry Black directly at 419‐671‐2150.
Southwyck
I spoke with M.D. Properties, the majority partner in the Southwyck complex. The representative advised me that there are no specific plans for the redevelopment of Southwyck at this time. He further stated that the firm is confident that when the economy shifts, Southwyck will become a vibrant and positive property. It is my opinion that the future of Southwyck will be market driven and the only role the city will take, or can take, is to assist the developers with improvements to the infrastructure.
I think it is a terrible idea to encourage employees to retire early (I suppose there will be some financial incentive). Unless we limit them to categories we feel we can replace easily (many years ago the Postal Service permitted clerks to retire 1-2 years early while not making the same offer to the repairmen of their equipment) we could see a lot of highly trained people leaving for jobs in the private sector. And those who are required to stay when they wanted to leave will find some way to “pay back” the system.
March 9th, 2010 at 5:27 pm1. eliminate all overtime in every department
2. implement an auxiliary police and fire
3. 4 day work week for all non-essential departments and services
4. sell the 1100 worthless properties owned by city
5. combine some city and county departments
6. .25% sales tax increase
7. lets take back the services that make a profit like parking and tow storage
8. 5% reduction in pay
9. open bids for trash to private companies
10. smaller more fuel efficient city vehicles to reduce fuel costs
11. elect new mayor and council
Budget problem solved!!!
March 9th, 2010 at 7:31 pm1 – you’d have to get rid of the minimum manning requirements in the fire department.
At least partly.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:37 pm2 – the training and liability aspect of this would take months
3 – been suggested
4 – have buyers?
5 – been suggested supposedly in progress
6 – not possible unless the general assembly changes the law to allow the City to collect a sales tax
7 – the city controls these now, not sure how eliminating what makes a profit would reduce the deficit
8 – can not be done without exigent circumstances for bargaining units
9 – we just purchased new trucks and the carts, the arbitrator ruling indicated the City could not privatize without finding employment for all city workers impacted
10 – that’s being done
11 – we just did
1.-2. An implementation of a new police and fire class as is already needed, would take care of the training issue and the auxiliary workers would fill those gaps when overtime and special projects is an issue. Other municipalities have both paid and volunteer police and firefighters. This would also allow axillary members to move directly into full-time positions when a position opens.
March 9th, 2010 at 8:10 pm3. We can make all the suggestions we want but if we don’t act on them it gets us nowhere.
4. If the properties aren’t listed for sale we will never have any buyers.
5. Again, suggestions but no actions.
6. The combining of city and county services solves that problem. Of the 6.75% sales tax collected in Lucas County, the county gets 1.25% of that. Reducing some of Toledos cost and allowing the county to collect another .25% would wash the added cost to the county from Toledo and other municipalities that can also combine some services.
7. The city does not control those now. They are contracted out to companies like park-smart who make a huge profit. The city should take back control of these not eliminate them.
8. It was my understanding that a $50 million deficit was cause for declaring exigent circumstances.
9. I am not familiar with that ruling so I can not coment on that.
10. That’s good to hear.
11. I guess its a start.
The City does control the tow lots now, as well as EMS/BLS and parking. They contract out to ParkSmart, because they were able to show a larger profit than when the city ran the parking. They are actually considering selling the parking garages but part of the income is promised to the Toledo-Lucas County Housing Fund, which would create a whole other set of legal hurdles.
I’m not familiar with any large cities the size of Toledo having a volunteer police or fire department. If you know of any, sharing that information would be appreciated.
I’m transcribing the Council Agenda review at this moment, they are discussing exigent circumstances, but it is expected that the unions will file a legal challenge to that. Seeking an additional pay cut on top of the elimination PERS payments and the health care premium costs would require additional legislation and also probably an additional court challenge.
March 9th, 2010 at 8:21 pmPasadena Cal. has a population of more than 150,000 and has a volunteer fire department. Though not quite as large, My solution would be a mix of both paid and volunteer compared to Pasadena being all volunteer. As for the police, many large cities across the country including New York City, use axillary officers to patrol the streets, cut costs, protect its citizens, get on the job training, and to eliminate the need for 2 paid officers in one patrol car. Its all about thinking outside the box instead of the same old tax, tax, tax mentality this city has grown to love so much. The city wanted to sell the parking garages 10yrs. ago but as you stated, to many legal issues. LOL, maybe the city should hire some better lawyers.
March 9th, 2010 at 8:46 pmThere is a strong built in incentive for those preparing to retire to work as much over-time as possible in order to use the 3 highest income producing years to arrive at their pension level for all future payments. That element must be removed from the equation to avoid the proliferate “old guy” overtime.Balance the employee’s long term work history to arrive at the figure. This is a long term solution for future arrangements. Short term, do not bend to the practice.
March 10th, 2010 at 6:09 am