LOVELAND, OHIO – Working stiffed

A penny for your thoughts? Or... How 'bout YOU paying $25.00? $65.00?

by David Miller
LOVELAND, OHIO – It's a growing trend, being expected to shell out what's left of your hard earned paycheck, to get access to government leaders. Here are two examples that hit close to home.

If you can afford a lunch break on Tuesday, April 29, from 11:30 AM -1:00 PM, the Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting lunch at a local country club where for $25.00 you get to hear views on school taxes as presented by the Superintendent of the Loveland District and the Loveland City Manager. An unspecified meal is on the menu. Work afternoons, or the graveyard shift, paying those local property taxes? At least you won't have to ask the boss for a little time off with pay.

In a “joint” press release issued by the Chamber and the City, the subject of the session is, “Supporting our Public Schools: the Role and Importance of the Commercial Tax Base.” Guest speakers will include Dr. Kevin Boys, Superintendent of Loveland City Schools; Tom Carroll, City Manager of Loveland; and Paulette Leeper from the Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce.

If usual practice is followed by Loveland, and if you are an elected official, lunch is on the taxpayer.

There are rumblings in the community that the average Joe and Jane will have to pay $25 to hear these appointed community leaders discuss their taxes, and that the Chamber may now be profiting from the recent school levy defeat. Despite formally endorsing or opposing several local ballot issues in recent years, the Chamber declined to support the recent tax levy for the school.

City Council Member Paul Elliott has always refused to allow City tax dollars to pay his way to Chamber events. The City, being a Chamber member, issues an e-mail soliciting whether City Council members wish to attend Chamber functions like networking breakfasts, cookouts, or golf outings. When Council Clerk Linda Cox receives responses, she makes reservations for the individuals and a city check is written. A recent Chamber event that was held at City Hall required an admission fee for a catered breakfast and a presentation by the City Manager and Mayor to present the “State of the City.” Elliott, being a council member wanted to find out what state his City was in, however, Elliott did not allow a reservation to be made in his name. He said he went after the breakfast was served to hear the presentation.

Boys was asked “The City usually uses tax dollars to pay the way to Chamber events for Council members - will the District pay the cost for Board members to attend this lunch?” Boys responded, “It would be a proper public expenditure, but I see your point.” Boys had told Board members at their last meeting to let him know if they wanted to go, and he would make a reservation for them to hear him speak.

Boys said in an e-mail, “Interesting. You know me.... if given the opportunity I will speak on behalf of Loveland schools and our children... not sure I would pay $25 to hear me speak.”

Responding about the upcoming breakfast where the City Manager and School Superintendent will discuss school taxes Elliott said, “I always find it interesting that such a potentially important community dialogue, especially on such an important subject, has a significant cost the attend.”

Paulette Leeper is the Executive Director of the Chamber and has also been a member of the City's Finance Committee for several years where she votes to recommend a budget to City Council that contains line items for the types of expenditure that lead to checks being written to the organization she runs. Leeper then routinely solicits money from the City for Chamber membership, and support for Chamber programs, such as a golf outing, a membership directory, and lunches where the City writes checks for staff and council members who attend.

The luncheon will be on Tuesday, April 29, from 11:30 AM -1:00 PM at the Oasis Conference Center. You can contact the Chamber to make your reservation at: info@lovelandchamber.org or 683-1544. Chamber members receive a $5.00 discount; all others will be charged $25.00 for the privilege.

Example #2

The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) has final authority over all federal dollars spent on transportation in the region. This quasi-government agency's purview also covers greenspace and land use, water quality issues, air pollution, homeland defense, and has an annual operating budget of $7.5 million. Their primary source of funds is from Federal and State government grants. The Boards of Directors, OKI's policy making body, are elected and appointed representatives from county, township, and municipal governments in eight counties in greater Cincinnati, northern Kentucky, and southeast Indiana.

They are currently working on a long-range plan that includes funding recommendations for the allocation of more than $7 billion for road, transit, freight, and bicycle/pedestrian projects in the eight-county region.

If you are a Board member there is no-cost for their April 24 Annual Meeting at the Savannah Center in West Chester where you “Step back in time when Southern grace and elegance was part of everyday living …” and be served grilled New York Strip with sauteed mushrooms and onions, a speech by Ohio Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, and get a first hand presentation of how they have used their time and your tax dollars the past year. Presumably, they will also discuss how that $7 billion will be spent.

Concerned whether OKI will recommend that trucks are banned from I-75 and rerouted to the Loveland area? Non-Board members can pay $65.00 for the “gracious service and the warmth of Southern hospitality and culinary talents of award-winning Chef Henry,” the knowledge of Toni Sander, their Sommelier, and chat with local leaders about the use of your tax dollars. If you want to make a reservation, call Marilyn Osborne at (513) 621-6300 ext. 120.