Middletown vs. Moeller
Pyramid Hill light show preparation
Were you spotted tailgating?
Road conditions driving tax hike discussion
Overall cost to repair, repave streets is $120M
COMMENT: Will residents support an income tax increase to pay for streets?
Friday, May 09, 2008
MIDDLETOWN — With $120 million needed for road repairs and repaving work, a group looking at developing a comprehensive streets improvement plan and finding ways to fund it has not yet reached concensus on either task.
City Engineer David Duritsch presented the Middletown City Council Streets Subcommittee during its meeting Thursday, May 8, with three-year street improvement programs based on two income tax increase scenarios to address roads in all four wards during the three years.
Extras
Photos
A section of road at Highland Street and Lefferson Road collapsed into a large sinkhole April 7 in Middletown.
Already the city has spent $136,000 of the $200,000 set aside in Middletown's 2008 budget for pothole repairs, which included fixing this pothole shown Jan. 15 in the 2000 block of Highland Street.A 0.25 percent income tax increase would generate about $8.25 million to address 30 lane miles at a cost of $8.02 million: 8.9 lane miles repaired and/or repaved in the first year at a cost of $2.65 million; 10.7 lane miles in the second year, costing $2.8 million; and 10.4 lane miles in the third year at a cost of $2.57 million, Duritsch said.
In the program using a 0.5 percent income tax scenario, bringing in about $16.5 million, about 55 lane miles would be repaired and/or repaved that would cost just more than $15.8 million: 18.8 lane miles would be addressed in the first year at a cost of $5.41 million; 18.5 lane miles costing $5.38 million in the second year; and 18.2 lane miles at a cost of $5.03 million in the final year, he said.
"As you can see, it's going to take quite a few years to see a noticeable improvement," Duritsch said.
During the discussion, Councilman Bill Becker expressed concern about seeking a tax increase greater than 0.25 percent given current economic conditions; however, he said with the limited budget residents may have to consider tax increases if they want better streets.
Councilwoman Anita Scott Jones said the subcommittee still needs to explore other funding options and suggested waiting another six months to develop the plan so it can be better presented to voters.
The committee next meets at 4 p.m. May 15 at the Middletown City Building, One Donham Plaza.
Comments
By Middletown citizen
May 12, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
Middletown Resident as a point about getting a grant. The city can get someone to do thier grant money but they would have to pay them and then account better for the moeny they are spending. Why should they do that? We as citizens need to make the council account for every last penny they spend.
By Sharon
May 11, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
You gotta be kidding me? As if ANY tax increase would actually be ear-marked and in reality ACTUALLY GO to re-paving the roads. I THINK NOT!! People in Middletown better wake up and smell the coffee. This town is dying and no tax increase or anything else is gonna fix the roads, or revive the town at all for that matter…..
By skjj
May 10, 2008 4:28 AM | Link to this
This has to do with the persons who are trying to fix the roads(pot holes). I live on Bonita Drive by Forrest Creek Apartments. Well the pot holes were filled but guess what-they need to be fixed again. If they get the contract what a bad job they did on these pot holes. What about the rest of them they did? Do they need to be fixed again? I think so. This is like you go down Briel there are some that has been fixed and some that has not and they are not even 5 feet apart-Whats up with this.
By skjj
May 10, 2008 4:27 AM | Link to this
This has to do with thw persons who are trying to fix the roads(pot holes). I live on Bonita Drive by Forrest Creek Apartments. Well the pot holes were filled but guess what-they need to be fixed again. If they get the contract what a bad job they did on these pot holes. What about the rest of them they did? Do they need to be fixed again? I think so. This is like you go down Briel there are some that has been fixed and some that has not and they are not even 5 feet apart-Whats up with this.
By Michelle
May 10, 2008 2:00 AM | Link to this
Those fed up w/Middletown City Council or Butler County Commissioners can email me..mharney@cinci.rr.com.I admit I’m a rpblcn at heart-SHOULD mean lesser govt but I’m so upset at the local tax juris policy in oh I may explode. I’d love to see us put our money where our mouth is and show up at their meetings. How do our county commissioners live with themselves after moving AK Steel elite? Geez, just less $ for Middletown to calculate 1.75%. HELLS BELLS townships don’t tax do they? SMOOTH MOVE..
By Michelle
May 10, 2008 1:59 AM | Link to this
Those fed up w/Middletown City Council or Butler County Commissioners can email me..mharney@cinci.rr.com.I admit I’m a rpblcn at heart-SHOULD mean lesser govt but I’m so upset at the local tax juris policy in oh I may explode. I’d love to see us put our money where our mouth is and show up at their meetings. How do our county commissioners live with themselves after moving AK Steel elite? Geez, just less $ for Middletown to calculate 1.75%. HELLS BELLS townships don’t tax do they? SMOOTH MOVE..
By Michelle
May 10, 2008 1:27 AM | Link to this
I DON’T SUPPORT INCREASED TAXES. Enough. You want 1.75% of my earnings..everyone wants a piece of this action STAND IN LINE. There’s not enough to go around. Run the city like a business.Cut back.Cut down.In a business, if my expenses go up something has to go..sadly, since I already run as efficiently as I can it means I have to fire someone and work that much harder. WHY?? I FIGHT for X amount of earnings. Ultimately, I make the same $ but loose a good worker..MIDD looses 1.75% of their $.
By Michelle
May 10, 2008 1:07 AM | Link to this
Moved to Midd 10 yrs ago. Best move? Debatable. Midd’s elected officials allowed tax dollars to leave. OMG-there’s a big pothole on my street..do I expect someone to fix it..DUH. We pay property taxes, income taxes..why can’t you fix it? The “good old boy days” are over-AK left-taking the highest payest wages out of the city. Who is out there fighting to bring more $$ INTO THE CITY? WE MUST COMPETE TO THRIVE OR WE WILL DIE. Towne Mall is dying-who on council or as county rep reps MIDD?
By John Deere
May 10, 2008 12:59 AM | Link to this
Potholes of repaved asphalt will need to be filled as potholes by the time the 45-50 years is complete to get all roads in Middletown done. transplant- the point is the city let ruination of the infrastructure set in for so many years, your worries about the band-aid now will be worse with the tax increase, which will never pass I add, with house values at mid 1980 levels, becuase it will take 50 years to complete the work anyway. So your suggestion the problem will come back is true anyway.
By transplant
May 9, 2008 11:32 PM | Link to this
My assumption is that the same potholes that are getting worked on now will need done again soon since patching is not permanent. That doesn’t sound like a solution to me, but I may be wrong.
By Norman Rockwell
May 9, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this
transplant…so the solution instead of spending $200K annually on filling otholes, is instead to have taxes raised so $6M can be wasted, the economy ruined as businesses and residents move out because of terriby poor services at such a high tax rate, and still take 35-40 years to pave all the roads which will need to be paved and repaved because so much time has gone by? If you think that is a solution, you are wrong.
By transplant
May 9, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
It is no secret that the roads need fixed, but was spending so much money this year on patching the way to go? Aren’t the potholes simply going to come back after next winter? If so, that was an expensive “band-aid.”
Look at some of the other cities in the region such as Monroe, Franklin, Springboro, and West Chester. What are they doing that Middletown isn’t? What are their staffing levels compared to Middletown’s? How are they saving money? There is a lot of progress happening around.
By socrates
May 9, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
How do morons get elected on council. Bill Becker thinks a .5% increase will pass? Hell, this will be defeated at least by 65% stating no. City doesn’t offer services today, at 1.75%, con the voters money not available over and over, and then Duritsch and Becker think residents so stupid to buy into these garbage taxes needed to get it done quicker, 35 years instead of 50. That’s what happens when high school grades are put in office and have failed tenures as city managers. Leave council.
By FRED PERRY
May 9, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
MR.MIKE HAWKSBIG HAS THE IDEA PLAN. THANKS MIKE. YOU SAID MY VERY THOUGHTS. WHAT HAPPENS TO MY INCOME TAX MONEY THAT COMES FROM INCOME EARNED BY MY PROPERTY DEGRADING EYE SORE TRUCK THAT I AM NOT PERMITTED TO PARK BESIDE OR BEHIND MY HOUSE THAT I ALSO PAY TAXES ON???????????????? “READ MY MAIL-NO MORE TAXES”
By Mike Hawksbig
May 9, 2008 8:03 PM | Link to this
I have an idea, lets put a roof over downtown and attract investment. Lets tear it off. Lets dig a lake in the middle of the river without getting an EPA permit! Lets grab land from the county next door and not maintain any of the infrastructure. Snow and leaf removal? Whats that? Lets waste 600 million to move our dysfunctional hospital. Lets ruin a farm and run a nursing home out of town instead of using the hundreds of unused acres at A-HOLE Steal! Mission Accomplished
By Middletown TaxPayer
May 9, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this
I would be interested in knowing how much money the city has spent at businesses run by members of council.
By Middletown Resident
May 9, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
Residents/Citizens of Middletown should call the Ethics commission of Ohio and ask them to investigate the Council’s actions or lack of actions.Council was aksed why grants to repair have not been obtained. Residents were told that the City of Middletown does not have a grant writer to obtain these funds, but Councilman Schiavone was able to obtain grant money from Butler county to open his new resturaunt. Council’s priorities do not sit with making Middletown a better place!
By Mack
May 9, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
While the city of Middletown is kissing up to AK Steel, why not ask them for money to fix the streets. They seem to get everything they want from Middletown, so let’s see the money.
By Middletown citizen
May 9, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
maybe the the next time the city coucil meets thier top priority on thier agenda should be stepping down, packing up and leaving town on a rail.
By George
May 9, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
It is a sad fact this CITY has failed to attract new industry and businesses as others closed or moved. How is it our nearby neighbors have done so much better? During a time when the city did need more monies to ensure we didn’t get into this mess they took a back seat to allow the schools to get their monies,tear down and build TOO many new buildings when there wasn’t a need to do so. In-fighting, continually delaying things and poor decision making has taken us down this lousy bumpy road.
By Dale
May 9, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
Befor asking for a tax increase for street repair ,how about explaining (in detail) where the the street repair budget has went for the last 20 years.
By mac
May 9, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
Sell Weatherwax Golf Course to pay for some of the road improvements. AK Steel sold Armco Park to raise money, why can’t the leaders of this town start running it like a business. They should also look into contracting out the Public Works Department,Water Department,Adminastrative offices, etc. large companys do this also to save money.
By Middletown citizen
May 9, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
I live in a part of Warren county that was annexed by Middletown, that was the sorriest and sadiest thing to ever happen to us. Ever since middletown annexed us our area has gone to hell. Thanks a lot for nothing City of Middletown, you are giving us nothing and you should get nothing in return.
By Middletown citizen
May 9, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
Middletown is run by a buch of incompetent idiots who couldn’t find thier way out of a wet paper bag if thier life depended upon it. Anyone is votes for the tax levey is no better then the incompetents who run Middletown. A Yes vote on a tax increase will only give the city more money to waste. If they need more money they need to work on keeping jobs and workers in Middletown and not driving them out of town.
By mac
May 9, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this
A .25 percent increase will not even cover the cost of loosing over 400 jobs at Garden Manor when they move out of town because of council turning their back on them. I say do not give Sun Coke any tax breaks to build here, If they want to build here let them pay their fair share like every other citizen in this town does.
By LuvMonroe
May 9, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
All of you who are sick of Middletown are more than welcome to move to Monroe - good schools, a Council who cares, decent roads, clean houses, safe neighborhoods, plus great police and fire departments.
You don’t need to live where no one cares about you. Your car will love you for it!
By PB
May 9, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
Why didn’t Middletown start repairing roads when times were good? When they still had a city full of jobs and more tax dollars coming in. Why did they wait til every road in the city needed repaired at the same time? These roads didn’t fall apart overnight, this has been going on for years. Now they want a tax increase.
By Fed Up with City Robbers
May 9, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Middletown residents pay such high taxes to pay for unreasonable City employee wages and benefits - and have had to use monies from their budget that were intended to maintain the streets - PERIOD!
By Mad as Hell and won't take it anymore!
May 9, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
I will buy a couple of bags of kitty litter and the city can supply the tar! Seems this is the way they repair the streets now so why would we think they would not do it any better with more of our hard earned wages going to the “general fund”. Why not float a bond to get necessary funding? Oh, nothing to back it up with as the hospital took everthing Middletown had!
By roadrage
May 9, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
No, a levey would fail. In 1986 the short-term fix for taxes was to allow funds to be diverted for emergency purposes. In 21 years, Middletown regained AK’s corporate office, and then lost it, again. No business moving in. AKS holding leverage over city, another 75 salaried workers ready to move out, in the event coke deal falls through. Hand city another 25% increase, and they’ll waste it like they did last increase. Fill potholes annually, residents won’t benefit by repaving anyway.
By Middletown Resident
May 9, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
Mulligan was overheard talking at the Duke Engergy that if Council holds off on paving the roads now, the residents will be sure to pass to another levy. During a recent meeting when council announced a surplus of 100,000 for the next 11 years, Schiavone wanted to use the money to buy trees. I’m sure from Armbrusters. What other creative ways can council come up with to funnel the resident’s tax money into each others’ business? I’m surprised none of the has started a street repair business!
By Melissa
May 9, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
I don’t understand how they aren’t repaved now given our astronomical city taxes to begin with. I just moved here from Mason last June and Mason’s city taxes are lower than Middletown’s and their infrastructure is just fine, in fact, beautiful! It is mind-boggling to me with our city taxes at 1.75%, which is much higher than most cities, how our infrastructure is so poor! Where, exactly, are our tax dollars going?? We see NOTHING for what we pay.
By denied
May 9, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this
With the past history of city government, how would you be sure the increased tax money would actually go to streets?
Maybe the hospital would decide they need a few million or some Realtor would decide he wanted his land in warren county annexed. Sorry folks city government got its self in this mess, you need to get the axe out and start chopping some budgets before asking for more money to play with.
By Middletown Loser
May 9, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
The hole in the road above is a clear picture of what the inside of each city councilman’s head looks like!
By T
May 9, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this
Ok city council members try attracting some decent businesses and jobs to Middletown. If I wouldn’t have to drive to Cincy for good wages and could work in Middletown that would save me $40 a week in gas plus wear & tear on my vehicle. Do that and I’ll give you the $40 a week for your streets!
By Chris
May 9, 2008 7:54 AM | Link to this
Middletown’s roads are the worst roads that I have ever seen. It’s not just the main road, it seems every single side road is horrible as well. There main problem is they never truly fix the road they just patch it, and re-patch it, then when it fails they patch it again. When you drive around Middletown you can literally see patch jobs over older patch jobs….or in the case of Armco Drive no patch jobs at all. The water department fixed a broken main where Richardson and Armco Drive’s meet…this was over six months ago…still not patch over the hole. Just a hump and some gravel….looking good Middletown!
By Chris
May 9, 2008 7:54 AM | Link to this
Middletown’s roads are the worst roads that I have ever seen. It’s not just the main road, it seems every single side road is horrible as well. There main problem is they never truly fix the road they just patch it, and re-patch it, then when it fails they patch it again. When you drive around Middletown you can literally see patch jobs over older patch jobs….or in the case of Armco Drive no patch jobs at all. The water department fixed a broken main where Richardson and Armco Drive’s meet…this was over six months ago…still not patch over the hole. Just a hump and some gravel….looking good Middletown!
By VietVet
May 9, 2008 7:25 AM | Link to this
The tax plan was already decided BEFORE the street committee had their first meeting.The answer to generate revenue for these clowns is to tax the citizens to the poor house.They haven’t had an econ.devel.program in place for 20 years to get revenue from the companies that have the money.They won’t downsize positions in city government to place money in the street funds.Since 1987,they’ve robbed the street funds for other failed projects.Now,they want you to fix it with another levy.Wrong answer
By pacfandave
May 9, 2008 7:07 AM | Link to this
Something is forever driving tax hike discussions: education, police protection, fire protection, roads, bridges, infrastructure in general. Here’s a thought: Why not have bake sales around the city to raise money? Because no one in a depressed economy, where homes are in foreclosure and gas prices are through the roof, is going to want to hear about tax increases. But people might spring for, say, a nice apple fritter, one with actual apple filling in it. I know I would.