To the Editor,

As a member of the Capital Improvement Plan Review Committee, I learned a great deal about the government of Tipp City. I voted against the recommendation sent to the city council. I am opposed to this tax levy for capital improvements at this time. I agree that the city does need to spend more money on capital improvements. If the current tax levy is approved the city would increase their spending on capital improvements a whopping 250% above previous levels. I know of no business or government that is increasing their budget such a staggering amount during these hard economic times.

The Tipp City Council needs to spend our tax dollars better before our tax rate goes up. Health insurance for City Council alone has the potential to cost the city $110,000 a year and will continue for the seeable future. The Warrior Racing litigation is going to cost Tipp City $150,000. because council decision to continue this litigation instead of fixing the roads even when they knew they going to lose and the city took it all the way to the Supreme Court of Ohio. Citizens of Tipp City need to look at the Master Park plan which calls for a gazebo/bandstand at the City Park, and an amphitheatre, interpretation center and wetlands nature trial at Kyle Park.

I do not see that the CIP committee made a recommendation to $2.3 million from the ten-year plan. I believe the initial ten-year plan of nearly $22 million was an exaggerated request so that the committee would make some cuts to give the appearance of making tough cuts. One cut made was not to fund a five lane road from St Rt 571 to Michaels Road, less than one mile that would have had a total cost of $4 million. It was discussed this is a highway that leads to no where.

If approved in the budget is $200,000 to buy land for the only purpose is to throw the leaves collected by the city. There is a significant amount to continue the city’s large financial upkeep of the city swimming pool. Over $2 million of this tax increase goes to pay for previous projects the city has already completed.

The City of Tipp City has the money for a new fire truck when ever they want it. The City current has over $3 million in a reserve fund they have chosen not to use it for years so they could cry how they need more money. Tipp City Council states they do not have the money to spend on roads. In my opinion they had the money but chose to spend it else where. Like over $1.3 million on new electric and water meters. Beautiful new light poles for main street. New cars for city employees when they are budgeted and not needed. There are plenty of more non essentially spending that have been pointed out in the past.

The reason the current tax increase was chosen was because it only effects 40% of the citizens. The city administration wants to ignore those 40% and convince the 60% to vote for the tax. They want the majority to force a tax increase on the minority. This tax increase directly effects the small business owner in Tipp City which is what the city is made up of as they will certainly have to pay this tax increase. I can not vote to increase my neighbors taxes in this tough economic time when many are struggling to get by, have not had a pay increase in several years and may be underemployed or not employed at all. Especially when the tax increase is not truly needed.

I was convinced that this current city council does not get the idea of looking at their spending when I attended a February council meeting. There was a proposal to spend a quarter of a million dollars for new vehicles. When a city administrator was asked if there were any safety issues or maintenance issues she stated no. She was then asked why is the city buying these vehicles and her response was ‘because it is in the budget.’ These were good working vehicles that certainly had much more time they could be in service, if this tax increase passes ‘because it is in the budget’ will continue to be the way with the current majority on council.

Citizens for a Strong Tipp City is not about the citizens but about big business that will profit from the more tax dollars. Filing with the local election board shows that not one citizen from Tipp City has donated to the support the levy that is not an employee of the city and there are only two local businesses that contributed a small amount. The Tipp City Chamber of Commerce nor the Downtown Partnership have contributed to financially support the Citizens for a Strong Tipp City.

This levy is a trial run for what the city leaders really want which is to continue the parks levy at 0.25% as capital improvement levy. When this tax increase fails there is nothing that prevents city council from proving they care about our tax money by cutting spending and then return in November and only put a 0.25% levy on the ballot which would keep the current tax rate the same. This would be the right rate at the right time.

I cannot support this levy if approved Tipp City would increase their spending in the capital improvements fund a whopping 250% above previous levels. I plan to note NO on this May issue and wait until they bring this back in November after the City Council proves they are better stewards of our tax dollars by cutting the operating budget and I will then vote to keep our tax rate the same.

Steve Huffman

Tipp City