Coming to Your School District

Common Core Curriculum

Why is it needed?

In my opinion it won’t solve all of our problems but it is a start.  What we are doing now is not working. A student in Nebraska should be able to compete nationally and internationally for a good job that will provide for the parent generation.

The United States has fallen to "average" in international education rankings released by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, according to the AFP.

America has received scores around 500 on a scale that goes up to 1,000: 487 in math, 500 in reading and 502 in science. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/07/us-falls-in-world-education-rankings_n_793185.html

·                          After World War II, the United States had the #1 high school graduation rate in the world. Today, we have dropped to # 22 among 27 industrialized nations. (OECD, 2012)

·                          American students rank 25th in math, 17th in science and 14th in reading compared to students in 27 industrialized countries.(OECD, 2012)

·                          By the end of the eighth-grade, U.S. students are two years behind in math compared to their peers in other countries. (OECD, 2009)

What is it?

(Edited) The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The standards were developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, and experts, to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce.

The standards are informed by the highest, most effective models from states across the country and countries around the world, and provide teachers and parents with a common understanding of what students are expected to learn. Consistent standards will provide appropriate benchmarks for all students, regardless of where they live.

These standards define the knowledge and skills students should have within their K-12 education careers so that they will graduate high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs.

Much more information on the good and bad at: http://stateimpact.npr.org/ohio/2013/05/03/common-core-testing-problems-crop-up-in-other-states/  

Schools will have to make a major investment in computers in order to comply with the new testing methods. One Southwest Ohio district with 2,300 students will spend $30,000 to purchase 120 chromebooks for this rotational testing.

Paul Hunter contact paulhunter45177@gmail.com

The Columbus Dispatch looks at Common Core:

Savings Passed Up

Potential Savings in City Operational Costs

In developing the general fund budget for 2013 city council and administration appeared to be turning over every rock to find ways to reduce spending while maintaining basic services and avoiding a tax increase.

Looking over past year’s budgets it was noted that the city was spending around $210,000 to collect $4 million in income taxes.

Research produced an alternative method of collection that could trim $50,000 to $100,000 from the collection costs.

A quasi government agency known as the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA) http://www.ritaohio.com/about/  provides tax collection services for many Ohio municipalities.

A representative of the agency was invited to make a presentation to Council’s finance committee. The representative stated that RITA could perform the collection services for around $104,000 or 2.6% of the total collected. The city is spending around 5.25% for the same service.

Some attendees at the meeting had concerns about losing local input to the collection system. The presenter offered that some municipalities kept a monitoring employee on the payroll but that option would reduce the total savings available.

No further action was taken by the city and we are again spending money that the city could be using to provide adequate street maintenance or aid the financially strapped parks and recreation budget.

No reason was given other than the local control matter.

Sabina uses RITA and the Mayor of the village (cell 937 218-6609) stated that they were quite pleased with the service. Loveland, a demographic and economic mirror image of Wilmington, also uses RITA and while missing some local input the savings realized more than compensates for that problem. (513-707-1452)

RITA operates in municipalities in the majority of Ohio counties. A local sampling includes Milford, Waynesville, Fairborn and Yellow Springs. (See map) http://www.ritaohio.com/about/rita-map/

Paul Hunter

Contact at paulhunter45177@gmail

Base/Air Park Hisrtory

                                Clinton County Air Force Base/ Wilmington Air Park History

Part I

A mid air collision by two C-119 aircraft near Clinton County A.F.B. took the lives of 17. Two survive

Nine C-119s with their Green Berets and other passengers were returning to [Clinton County Air Force Base] base in close formation at 8:53 p.m. when things went wrong.

Seventeen men were killed and two C-119 transport planes destroyed near the Warren [Clinton] County hamlet of Melvin, 10 miles from the Wilmington base.

Among the dead was Lt. Donald B. Becker, brother of Mrs. Robert B. Smith of Miracle Mile in Springfield.

The news reports said that S.Sgt. Zugelder, then 37, was in fair condition at Clinton Memorial Hospital “with two broken shoulder blades, a broken nose, fractured clavicle, along with cuts and bruises.”

The other survivor, Sgt. 1st Class William Kremer, “a 32-year-old Columbus fireman in civilian life, was found wandering about a plowed field in a dazed condition,” a story added. Kremer “later reported that he was sitting on the left side of the plane near the exit door when ‘all at once, I was sitting outside in the darkness with the feeling of falling, the wind going past my ears.’”

Zugelder recalled that as it entered clouds, his plane was in a three-plane formation.

Once inside the clouds, the plane in front “lost reference,” went to instrument flight and leveled off, he said. “That took us right into their wing. From that point on, for the next minute, maybe, I don’t remember what happened.”

In the accident report, Zugelder learned the windshield of his plane struck the outboard flap of the plane in front, peeling off the top of his aircraft.

That apparently catapulted Zugelder and Kremer into thin air, as Kremer described in the newspaper story.

“The next thing I knew,” Zugelder said, “I could feel pressure from my legs from the parachute, and I could see my parachute collapse on the ground.”

Just as he has forgotten everything else in those moments, he doesn’t remember pulling the D-ring to open his parachute. His survival suggests he must have.

Grunting pigs

“From where I was on the ground, I could see the other wreckage burning,” Zugelder said. He also could hear pigs “rooting in their feeders” nearby.

A field ambulance took Zugelder to a civilian ambulance parked on a nearby road, and he was whisked to the hospital. There followed a 12-week recovery. http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/lifestyles/looking-back-man-survived-plane-crash-he-cant-reme/nNqsn/

Part II 

UFO Story 

On 07 January 1948 newspapers across the U.S. carried headlines similar to theLouisville Courier: "F-51 and Capt. Mantell Destroyed Chasing Flying Saucer." The "Mantell Incident" was the most thoroughly investigated sighting of that time. Captain Thomas Mantell died trying to reach a Skyhook balloon, launched from Clinton County AFB. He didn't know that he was chasing a balloon because he had never heard of the huge, 100-foot-diameter skyhook balloons, let alone seen one. Mantell's death was ultimately caused by the hype over UFOs, which no doubt caused him to chase after it at all costs.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/facility/clinton_county.htm

Researched & edited by Paul Hunter (contact at paulhunter45177@gmail.com 

.

Coming To A Ballot Box Near You

If enough signatures are obtained

Ballot Board Certifies Ohio Cannabis Rights Amendment as Single Issue 
The Ohio Ballot Board, chaired by Secretary of State Jon Husted, today determined that a proposed constitutional amendment regarding cannabis consists of one issue.

For text see: http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/upload/ballotboard/2013/OCRA_letter.pdf

Rip Off?

DHL Abatement

You Be The Judge

In 2004 DHL (the company) offered to purchase, what is now known as, Wilmington Airpark with plans to expand the facility. As an incentive to make the deal more attractive the Clinton County Commissioners offered a property tax proposal that would exempt for seven years, all property taxes for new construction.

The state laws governing this type of abatement are rather complex but the basics are:

a.      The local school district has no voice in the abatement even though the district had the most to lose. (over 50% in lost revenues).

b.     When the new construction is completed the company will apply to a Commissioner appointed housing officer to certify to the county auditor that the new facility is cleared for the exemption.

c.      Ohio Law 3735.67(D): “The tax exemption shall first apply in the year following the calendar year in which the certification is made to the county auditor.”

The building projects were completed in 2005, however, the company did not apply to the housing officer for the more than $600,000 exemption. As a result the company had to pay a portion of property taxes due for 2005 in 2006.

After again failing to request certification in 2006 the company finally made an official post construction request to the housing officer on February 19, 2007 for certification and was certified to the auditor on May 7, 2007.  In accordance with (c) above the abatement should have applied in 2008 and taxes paid for 2007.

For an unexplained reason the housing officer added a statement to the certification “commencing in 2006”. The auditor asked for a legal opinion and was advised to complete the exemption as of 2006. This variance from the statute cost the county treasury the aforementioned $600,000 for tax year 2007 payable in 2008. 

During 2008 this writer pressed the commissioners and the Wilmington schools administration to take action to recover the funds but no action was taken by either entity.

That same year the company decided to leave the county without being billed for or paying the taxes due.

Not only did the school district loose the $300,000 then due but also an additional $650,000 per year as a result of the Port Authority’s need to apply for an exemption in order to reduce its tax burden in order for the Airpark to survive financially.

The above narrative is as factual as the public information is fact.

Paul Hunter paulhunter45177@gmail.com

Request

Request for Readership Numbers

In order to judge the relevance of this blog for public information purposes I request that readers respond via the gmail address with a simple “yes” it is relevant or “no” it is not.

Paul Hunter paulhunter45177@gmail

Farm Properties

Should Public Entities Be Farm Landlords/Speculators?

Published 5/24/13

As of 1/1/12 the City of Wilmington’s, Community Improvement Corporation, (CIC) owned ten parcels of land totaling 170 acres with an estimated value of $1million. This land, located in the city is cash rented to local farmers. The most recent purchase, a 21acre parcel on SR 134, was made in 2011. Neither the purchase price or reason for the purchase is not known because this entity does not announce meeting times and so far this year has not released the required financial report. The cash rent terms are also unknown.

Clinton County via the Board of Commissioners owns 127 acres of farmland with an estimated value of over $300,000 on SR 68 North.

This land is also known as the “Children’s Home” land. The cash rent agreement is public information and is periodically reopened for new bids.

The Clinton County Port Authority, in addition to its DHL donation, own three farm parcels totaling 195 acres with an estimated value of $1.8 million. The land is in biddable cash rent and the terms are public information.

Source: County Auditor http://clintonoh.ddti.net/Search.aspx

Paul Hunter

State Attacks City Revenue

State Making Another Attack On City Revenue

Published 5/21/13

I have requested that City Council invite our State Representative Rosenberger, to explain or defend the Ohio House Bill 5 that includes a proposal to equalize city income tax procedures across the state.

According to the Dayton Paper’s conservative estimate of yearly revenue loss for the sample cities would be: Springboro $838,000, Oakwood $436,000 and Miamisburg $700,000.

If the estimates a valid I would extrapolate a guess that Wilmington’s loss would be in the range of $400,000 per year

Paul Hunter paulhunter45177@gmail.com

Public Meetings

Of Interest to Public Officials and Interested Citizens

http://urbanacitizen.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=163182&TM=39981.19 DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — A proposal in the state Senate would require more government meetings to be open to the public and expand the possible penalties for violating Ohio's open meetings law. The legislation proposed by state Sen. Shannon Jones, a Republican from Springboro, has prompted concern among some public officials who worry that it could make it more difficult for them to do their jobs, the Dayton Daily News reported. Jones' proposal would expand the types of discussions subject to the Ohio Open Meetings Act, part of the Ohio Sunshine Laws requiring government meetings or discussions about public business to be public. The current law says the decision-making body of a public organization must take action or hold discussions related to public business during "pre-arranged" meetings that are open to the public. Under the proposed changes, unscheduled discussions about public business among the majority of members of a public body would have to be public. Government officials who get together for information-gathering purposes also would have to make those meetings public. The bill also would expand fees and expenses that may be recovered for violations of the act. It also would require more details to be included in the public motions required to hold closed-door meetings, also known as executive sessions. Public bodies can use those sessions to discuss subjects such as pending legal action or the purchase of property. Jones told the newspaper that her intention is to preserve the law and protect the public. She said the current law is as a "pretty good one," but needs to be clearer. "Public business should be done in public," and it's better to err on the side of the public's right to know, Jones said. Larry Long, executive director of the County Commissioners' Association of Ohio, said some county officials are confused about when a gathering would be considered a meeting under the bill. He said officials worry that they could break the law just by attending community events where another member is present and a government issue might be mentioned. The law applies to all state and local government agencies, but changes could be more troublesome for county commissions, which usually consist of only three members, Long said. The association also is concerned about proposed changes that would replace the word "deliberations" with "consideration or discussion" in some sections of the bill. The group questions whether changing the language would create a new interpretation or standard that could lead to lawsuits. Josh Hahn, the association's senior policy analyst, told The Associated Press on Monday that the group is hoping that some changes can be made in the proposed legislation to address the concerns. A message seeking comment was left at Jones' office Monday. The bill has been assigned to the State Government Oversight & Reform Committee. Posted by Paul Hunter

Are Local Governments Serious About Saving Money?

Published 5/20/13

For the past several years many counties and cities have been centralizing their nine one, one dispatch call centers. The city and Clinton County have shown little serious consideration of looking into the feasibility. One party or another offers a minor objection and the idea is buried. Turf Protecting?

The city did recently apply for a grant to study the possibilities but when the grant was denied the conversation ended.

Some years ago I was in contact with a consultant who would have made a presentation to local authorities for no initial charge.  I also contacted the director of the then newly formed Urbana-Champaign County central dispatch and he stated that after initial costs had been absorbed significant saving would be realized.

As reported in the Dayton newspaper 5/19/13, “Facing huge costs to convert their emergency dispatch centers to the latest technology several Greene County localities are moving to abandon the centers and merge. These moves are expected to save the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.” Noted that Greene County has much larger population than Clinton.
Appended 5/22/13:
I was misinformed concerning the grant. The grant was awarded but it appears that the parties that applied for it are now separating themselves from the concept. In my opinion, based on observation and the history of the issues involved, there will not be any meaningful result and the money might be wasted.
Paul Hunter

Paul Hunter 

Fiscal Approach Editorial part II

The 50% decrease in street maintenance funding from the 2010 allocation may be the result of an unsustainable effort to balance the 2013 budget. After all the miles of city streets to be maintained has not decreased while the age of those streets has increased. Addendum  [The streets department had been on a schedule of resurfacing two miles of  streets each year. Due to budget constraints no resurfacing is planned for 2013. Resurfacing delayed cost' more in the long term. The city has seventy seven miles of streets.

Demolition Dollars

Published 5/15/13

Attorney General Mike DeWine announces the launch of a new grant program, “Moving Ohio Forward”, to assist communities in their economic recovery by removing blighted or abandoned structures to reclaim our neighborhoods.  Recognizing the economic hardships facing local governments, the Attorney General will not require a match for up to the first $500,000 allocated to each County.

http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Foreclosure

According to the Highland County Press the amounts going to area counties are :

Highland County – $292,931;
• Adams County – $121,607;
• Brown County – $328,464;
• Clinton County – $288,752;
• Pike County – $101,266; and,
• Ross County – $384,442.

http://highlandcountypress.com/Main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=73&ArticleID=13893

Clinton County’s share is augmented by an $83,000 Federal grant, as noted in the 5/14/13 News Journal. In the same article the Mayor suggested that the city might contribute some money to demolition if the federal grant falls short of the funds required.

The commissioners have bid out $202,000 of the state grant’s  $289,000 allocation for eight properties. This works out to $25,250 per property.

Wilmington’s request for $50,000 of the federal grant for three properties averages $17,000 per property.

Question: Should property owners cede their post demolition vacant lots to the county/city in partial repayment to the taxpayer supported demolition funds used to improve that property? Some of these distressed properties have delinquent tax assessments pending.

Paul Hunter paulhunter45177@gmail.com

New Revenue

An Untapped Source of New Revenue

Published 5/15/13

 Hillsboro city council by unanimous votes has passed an ordinance raising the fee it collects from Time Warner Cable from 3 percent to 5 percent.

The measure, which was identified earlier this year as a way to generate more revenue for the city, replaces a 15-year agreement that had long kept the franchise fee at 3 percent of gross revenues.

Wilmington’s 2012 general fund revenue from Time Warner was $80,882. If the fee were increased to 5% the revenue would be an estimated $134,803 per year. Would the increase constitute a hidden tax increase for Time Warner subscribers? Wilmington’s current contract calls for a 3% share of gross revenues.

A Case For City Council & Citizen Oversight

Published 5/14/13 Edited 5/20/13

5/3/12 COUNCIL PRESENTATION

The serious problem with city operations that I will present this evening has existed for several years in the solid waste/landfill department.

Since the failure of six months worth of public and non-public negotiations has failed to resolve the situation I, along with the president of council and the solid waste committee chairman felt it was time to place the problem in the public record.

I have shared my concerns about this issue with both the former and current mayors as well as council. Most, if not all have shared and supported my approach.

The following brief history of the situation may prove helpful in understanding the problem.

Three years ago this month the solid waste department requested, and council passed, an amendment to the existing fee schedule ordinance in order to increase revenue. The amendment included a substantial increase in residential collection charges. 

During the discussion of the amendment it was publicly revealed for the first time that the landfill was selling space to outside the city haulers, also called tippers.

Information led me to believe that the fees being charged to commercial tippers were too low but neither Mr. Wells, solid waste committee chairman, nor I could obtain the true charges.

Finally in October of 2011, I was informed by landfill personnel, that in city commercial tippers were being charged $10.28 per yard ($30.84/ton) and outside the city companies were being charged $13.42 per yard ($40.26/ton)

The correct charges should have been $11.78 inside city and $17.50 for outside city.

It appeared that the service director had inadvertently missed the increases in Ohio EPA and County Solid Waste, per ton, fees and had not adjusted the fees as authorized by the ordinance.

Not wanting to cause a public stir over what I considered human error I requested an October meeting with the Mayor, Mr. Wells, the Service Director and the landfill superintendent. As a result of the meeting the Service director agreed to send a letter to all commercial haulers/tippers informing them that the corrected fees would be in effect as of January first 2012.

I later obtained a copy of the letter only to discover that the fees were $3 per ton lower than ordinance mandated charges.

In January the new Mayor invited me to meet with him concerning the fee structure and he agreed that action would have to be taken to correct the situation that he called, a real mess.

In February a solid waste committee meeting was called to discuss the landfill situation. At that meeting it was announced that prior to the January letter, outside tippers had been charged the same as inside the city companies.

This rate was $7.22 per ton lower than the ordained fee. It is not known how long that the undercharge had been in effect.

Discussions at this meeting included the claim that due to the new fee schedule many outside the city and outside the county haulers were taking their business to other landfills. A request was made to allow the service director to reduce the fees in order to regain these customers and keep the cash flow up.

As I recall the discussion, the legality of fee setting by an entity other than council was to be cleared by the law director prior to implementation.

My understanding is that the law director gave both an oral and written opinion that only council can set base rates and fees.

The claim that the higher January rates drove away commercial haulers may be true but that is good news. Cash flow was up over $3,000 due to the increased fee collection even though those fees were still $3 per ton lower than mandated. Just as important is the slowing fill rate of valuable landfill space.

In any event no one, including the solid waste committee, seems to know what fees are being charged now except that those fees have been set by individuals and are not those contained in the landfill law as passed by council in 2009 and reinforced by the law director’s opinion.

In conclusion: The city’s residents are paying the increased fee while commercial users of the landfill have been getting bargain rates in, what appears to be a mistaken attempt to gain revenue. Please see back of handout for a suggested ordinance amendment.

Postscript: Since the above 2012 presentation significant progress has been made at the landfill. a. A truck scale has been purchased and installed to more accurately determine tonnages; b. Council has established a new fee structure; and c. The solid waste committee will monitor and review the results of these actions at the end of the year.

Paul Hunter 
[Since the above postscript  Reporting in the News Journal "According to Larry Reinsmith, the city's public service director, the department has already received commitments from two carriers to return since the ordinance passed May 2. He told council on Thursday they used to average around $33,000 a month which is approximately $400,000 a year."

My data indicates that when the landfill was charging illegal low fees the the average revenue in In the first six months 2011 was $22,036 from from an average monthly rate of 1153 tons of space consuming waste was dumped.

In the tree months in 2012 when legal rates were applied the average revenue increased to $39,927 and the average dump rate was 1069 tons.  It was a win win situation revenue increased and valuable air space was saved, 

The new fee structure to become effective in June is a mixture of the old and new charges. Time will tell whether the revenue at least remains stable and airspace not sold cheaply. 

Paul Hunter

  

Local Schools Looking Into Free Solar Energy Projects    Published 5/7/13

Quote from local education center:

“On January 15^th the SOESC and the Clinton County Regional Planning Commission held a joint session on the topic of solar renewable energy opportunities for institutions and non-profit entities.  Some of our member districts were represented that evening, when speakers shared information on the topic of solar energy.  Hillsboro City and Blanchester Local Schools are currently pursuing solar energy as a viable resource.

In an effort to further examine the tangible financial and educational benefits for school districts that may choose to participate in such a program, the SOESC would like to share the attached approach to determine whether solar energy is a viable option for your district.

TMI Energy Solutions has worked with both Blanchester and Hillsboro Schools in the past several months and has completed projects for other non-profits throughout Ohio .  The program being offered provides SOESC member school districts with a chance to combine their collective buying power and obtain a competitive rate structure from perspective renewable energy developers.  The discovery process outlined in the attachment provided will allow each district to receive an evaluation of the feasibility for their particular site and a proposal of the benefits should they decide to participate in the group program.

Jeff Borton, Project Developer for TMI, will be contacting each district within the next few weeks to explain more information about the program and answer specific questions you may have.   I would invite everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to reduce utility expenses and gain additional educational resources for students.  If your district is not interested in more information about solar energy, please share your wishes with Jeff and that will be the last call you receive.”

Paul Hunter  (personal 

Questions for the New Council Members

Published 5/13/13

Do you support the city’s curbside recycling program?

Would you consider diverting a small part of the city’s portion of the motel/hotel “bed tax” from the Visitors Bureau in order to make needed repairs to the city park’s facilities?

Would you consider giving the residents of Wilmington a voice in revenue enhancement by allowing them to vote on a 1.5 mill property tax for street maintenance? (see A Fiscal Approach For City Council post)

When funds become available would you place a priority on granting some form of pay increase to long-suffering city employees?

The city now has an enterprise zone (EZ) 75%, seven-year tax abatement plan available, which grants the schools a voice and some revenue.  With the foregoing in mind would you consider closing the 100% ten year Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) in which the schools have no voice and receive no revenue?

Note: The Mayor voted to close the county’s CRA #1 while he was a commissioner.

Would you support contracting out the city income tax collection work if it could save the general fund $50 to $100 thousand per year?

Would you consider dissolving the council created Community Investment Corporation (CIC) and transferring the idle $2 million in assets to the  Port Authority?

Note: See the “Redundant Organizations” post below.

Would you consider attempting to renegotiate the $1 per year rental agreement with Total Baking Solutions (TBS) in light of the fact that employment appears to be 80% below the expected average of 100?

Paul Hunter  paulhunter45177@gmail.com

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Statement of purpose:

My intent is to use this venue to discuss and focus attention to local political, educational, economic, and development issues that effect Wilmington and Clinton County.

I request that:

Factual comments be accompanied by an internet site or some other reliable source.

Opinions are identified as such.

Rumors and hearsay be identified as such,

Respondents identify themselves by using first and lat names.

Respondents refrain from engaging in personal ad homonym attacks on users of the blog.

Contact Paul Hunter at  paulhunter45177@gmail.com  
Unless otherwise requested messages may be considered as comments and added to the blog.

Important News or Not?

Published 5/12/13

Greenhouse gas milestone; CO2 levels set record

By SETH BORENSTEIN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Worldwide levels of the chief greenhouse gas that causes global warming have hit a milestone, reaching an amount never before encountered by humans, federal scientists said Friday.

Carbon dioxide was measured at 400 parts per million at the oldest monitoring station which is in Hawaii sets the global benchmark. The last time the worldwide carbon level was probably that high was about 2 million years ago, said Pieter Tans of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration………….

http://www.madison-press.com/2013/05/greenhouse-gas-milestone-co2-levels-set-record/

Paul Hunter paulhunter45177

Part II
OLD BOB AND CARL'S ON ROMBACH
City Code 1909.   

		General.   The exterior of a structure shall be maintained in good repair, structurally sound ........    Sidewalks and Driveways.   All sidewalks, walkways, stairs, driveways, parking spaces and similar areas shall be kept in a proper state of repair, and maintained free from hazardous conditions

             

Published 5/11/13 Paul Hunter

Electric Aggregation, A personal Experience

Published 5/10/13

Like many city and county DP&L customers I had made an individual contract with an alternate supplier (Border) a year ago.  This move reduced my per 1,000 kilowatt hour (KWH) generation cost from $92 per month to $70. The contract was for 18 months with a $75 early cancellation charge. The opportunity to opt into the city’s (and now county) aggregation plan with a $53 per month cost for 1,000 KWH became available.

With a year to go on the Border contract I calculated that the it made sense to pay the $75 charge and opt in because in five month the reduced cost would more than pay for the charge.  

Each contract has a different cancel fee so each calculation is different. Note that DP&L Energy contracts have no cancel fee.

For more information concerning opting in contact Sheery Banister at sherry.bannister@dplinc.com

Port Update         Published 5/09/13

It was announced today that the Port Authority (The Port) has arranged to sell some of the DHL package sort equipment acquired when the Air Park was taken over by the Port in 2010. The sale is expected to worth $1 million. That’s the good news. The bad news is that due to a contractual agreement DHL can demand a 60% share of the sale proceeds in what is called a “claw back” clause.

The inflow of cash will help to sustain the cash poor Port for a while.

Paul Hunter  paulhunter45177@gmail.com

An Editorial       

Published 5/8/13

A Fiscal Approach For City Council to Consider   

    As the city slowly recovers from the economic doldrums it’s time to consider some relief for the long suffering city employees who have seen their pay frozen at 2008 levels as their workload increased due to the hiring freeze. Those workers will soon begin to look for better paying jobs elsewhere. After all, the cost of living index has gone up 13% since 2008 while city worker pay has remained flat.  One way to reduce an employee turnover is for the voters to make a minor investment in employee compensation. If the city has to spend less general fund dollars on street repair and maintenance those dollars can be diverted to a small employee pay increase..

    In past years, including 2008, Wilmington’s taxpayer-supported general fund budget did not include any money transfers to the street Repair and Maintenance department (M & R) fund. The department was able to operate on funds generated mainly by fees on motor vehicle registrations. The department’s budget for 2008 was $1.3 million.

    In 2008 a local company moved its truck license registrations out of state. That move caused a reduction of approximately $700,000 per year from M & R’s 2009 operating budget.

    For the first time in many, many years the 2009 budget included a general fund transfer to the street M & R department. The $684,000 transfer was barely noted in a year of record general fund revenue and M & R work went on with the same funding levels as in past years.

    Projected general fund revenue for 2013 and beyond has started to stabilize after falling steeply over the last several years. The general fund transfer to the M & R operating fund this year is down $351 thousand dollars from 2010’s allocation. This fact reinforces the need for additional revenue sources in order to maintain necessary services.  This is an unsustainable financial situation in the near and even mid term time frame

    The only way to at least slow the maintenance and service shortfall is to offer  voters an opportunity to pass a dedicated 1.5 mill property tax assessment for street repair and maintenance. The annual property tax increase would be $3.85 per month for each $100,000 of appraised owner occupied home value. The cost for seniors would be $2.90 per month. The revenue from the levy, $380,000 would not be enough to eliminate the need for some general fund transfer but it would reduce the amount significantly. A tax increase of any kind is a hard sell any time - and especially during hard times - however, by asking us voters to become a part of the decision-making process, we become responsible for the outcome good or bad. If we understand that services such as snow and ice removal from secondary streets will have to be curtailed or eliminated, and a reduction in police and fire/emergency manning could result from a no vote we will at least have been forewarned.

    The city council could prepare the voters for a ballot issue by open and reasoned explanation that city government is taking positive steps to reduce spending.

Taking steps such as these would be a start:

a.      Continuing the hiring freeze and only fill position vacancies if the real security of the city would be compromised.

b.      Ask the Human Resource office to analyze the entire city work force for employees that are near enough to retirement to make the buying out their retirement obligation fiscally sound.

    The list is only a suggestion and other means of deficit reduction are certainly available and worth consideration. If the city acts responsibly in reducing expenses and the voters reject a levy, the voters must then take some responsibility for any resultant loss of services. Whether a levy passes or fails is not as important as is voter participation in the budget process.

Paul Hunter paulhunter45177@gmail.com

   

Local Schools Looking Into Free Solar Energy Projects    Published 5/7/13

Quote from local education center:

“On January 15^th the SOESC and the Clinton County Regional Planning Commission held a joint session on the topic of solar renewable energy opportunities for institutions and non-profit entities.  Some of our member districts were represented that evening, when speakers shared information on the topic of solar energy.  Hillsboro City and Blanchester Local Schools are currently pursuing solar energy as a viable resource.

In an effort to further examine the tangible financial and educational benefits for school districts that may choose to participate in such a program, the SOESC would like to share the attached approach to determine whether solar energy is a viable option for your district.

TMI Energy Solutions has worked with both Blanchester and Hillsboro Schools in the past several months and has completed projects for other non-profits throughout Ohio .  The program being offered provides SOESC member school districts with a chance to combine their collective buying power and obtain a competitive rate structure from perspective renewable energy developers.  The discovery process outlined in the attachment provided will allow each district to receive an evaluation of the feasibility for their particular site and a proposal of the benefits should they decide to participate in the group program.

Jeff Borton, Project Developer for TMI, will be contacting each district within the next few weeks to explain more information about the program and answer specific questions you may have.   I would invite everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to reduce utility expenses and gain additional educational resources for students.  If your district is not interested in more information about solar energy, please share your wishes with Jeff and that will be the last call you receive.”

Paul Hunter  (personal paulhunter45177@gmail.com

State Balances Budget      published 4/6/13

By keeping more local tax money in Columbus.

In the current 2012-2013 budget the state cut the “local government fund “, direct funding to municipalities and the compensation for the elimination of the personal property tax on business.

The amounts of the county city and schools reductions in the current state budget from the 2010-2011 totals:

County Operations –$2,900,000

Public Library Fund -$640,000

Schools -$5,000,000

Wilmington City -$708,000

The local service levies were also cut:

County health -$44,000

Child Services -$126,000

Mental Health -$322,000

Senior Service $120,000

http://www.policymattersohio.org/county-budgets-nov2012

The prospects for the next budget cycle are not much better for local governments.

The state will experience a loss of revenue if the income tax rate is reduced, the oil and gas drilling tax is not increased and the sales tax coverage is not expanded.

In order to save millions and again balance the state budget the legislature is contemplating, among other things, the elimination of the 12.5% residential property tax roll back rebate to local governments. The state has for many years compensated local governments by making up the roll back loss. Similar action was taken several years ago when the roll back was eliminated for commercial property.

The effect of this legislation would be a tax increase on local home owners who may also be facing further cuts in services and/or tax levy requests by schools and local governments.

If  the12.5% rollback is eliminated, a resident owner of a $100,000 home would have a tax increase of $202 per year. An equivalent of a six mill property tax increase. No new revenue would be generated for local entities and rhe state would save the $202.

 http://www.mcohio.org/government/auditor/newsdetail436.html

Paul Hunter paulhunter45177@gmail.com

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My intent is to use this venue to discuss and focus attention to local political, educational, economic, and development issues that effect Wilmington and Clinton County.

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Factual comments be accompanied by an internet site or some other reliable source.

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Contact Paul Hunter at paulhunter45177@gmail.com


  

Casino Tax Distribution        Published 5/4/13

Cities want casino funds.

Is this question being asked by the city and/or being answered by the Clinton County Commissioners?

“City and township officials in Greene County are asking the Greene County Board of Commissioners to consider distributing to them the casino revenue that the county will be receiving to replace their losses from the local government fund.”

Ohio Department of Taxation http://www.tax.ohio.gov/Government/Casino.aspx

Casino tax distribution (distributions will increase as the fourth casino and racinos become fully operational)

Quarterly Distributions to Clinton County

July 2012 County Distribution $36,598

October 2012 County Distribution $73,047

 January 2013 County Distribution $97,084

April 2013 County Distribution  $116,458

Total to date $323,187

Assuming that the April quarterly distribution will be at least the minimum amount, the county can expect at least a half million dollars per year. Based on a population basis Wilmington’s share would be 25% or $125,000. A much needed cash infusion. 

School Districts receive a separate distribution.

January 2013 County Distribution

 Based on Public School Student Population Within County

Semi annual distributions

EAST CLINTON LOCAL SCHOOL $26,443.16* - $31,535**

BLANCHESTER LOCAL SCHOOL $28,534 - $36,356

CLINTON-MASSIE LOCAL SCHOOL $28,175

WILMINGTON CITY SCHOOLS $66,678 - $66,902

*January 2013 School District January 2013 County Student Distribution  Based on Public School Student Population Within County
**January 2013 School District Distribution
Paul Hunter

Welcome to Wilmington Ohio        Published 5/2/13

The city is a gateway to prosperity where you won’t be bothered by pesky property maintenance codes. But would you want to live there?

I ask the readers to very carefully drive into the pot hole cratered parking lot of the old Bob & Carl’s parking lot on Rombach Ave., next to CVS, and view the facade of the former grocery store.

The sorry conditions of that parcel have existed for years despite the many complaints citing various building code violations*. The city has several methods of requiring compliance but has chosen to allow the conditions to further deteriorate for unknown reasons. 

Is this a case of selective enforcement? Let your grass go uncut and you will soon be notified by the city that if you don’t remedy the situation the city will mow it for you and charge it to your property tax bill.

*Go tohttp://www.conwaygreene.com/Wilmington/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-hit-h.htm&2.0 and search chapter 1701.00.

Paul Hunter