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Local News

Friday, October 23, 2009

School issue campaign spends $18K
Hancock Federal Credit Union
By MICHELLE REITER

STAFF WRITER

Spending by a group that is promoting the Findlay City Schools' 4.3-mill bond issue has far outstripped spending on two other major tax issues on the Nov. 3 ballot.

So far, Citizens for Findlay Schools has spent $18,308, compared to $1,591 spent by the Committee for a Better Hancock County, which is lobbying for Hancock County's half-percent sales tax.

Save Our City 2010, a group lobbying for passage of a quarter-percent city income tax increase, has spent only $372, but another group, Findlay Firefighters Local 381, also is urging passage of the city income tax and has spent $2,921.

Pre-election campaign finance reports were due at the Hancock County Board of Elections at 4 p.m. Thursday. Candidates or committees that received or spent $1,000 during the latest campaign spending cycle were required to file. Post-election spending reports will be due Dec. 11.

The school bond issue would raise $54 million and would be matched with $19 million from the Ohio School Facilities Commission. The money would build two middle schools and a career technical center.

The half-percent sales tax would continue a tax that is already in place. The tax is expected to generate about $5 million a year for flood reduction and county government operations.

The city's quarter-percent income tax increase would generate about $3.5 million a year. The money would go for city operating expenses, such as firefighters, and flood reduction.

The income tax increase would mean someone working in Findlay and making $50,000 annually would pay $10.41 more per month. Those who regularly shop in the city would pay about $8 more per month with the half-percent sales tax increase. Those with homes appraised at $100,400 would pay an additional $11 a month for the schools.

The total increase would be $29.41 per month, campaign organizers say.



School bond issue

Citizens for Findlay Schools reported receiving $9,734 in contributions this campaign spending cycle, and brought forward $17,161 from a previous report, giving the committee a total of $26,895 to spend.

The committee spent $18,308, leaving $8,586 in its war chest.

It received a $1,000 contribution from Findlay Publishing Co., the publisher of The Courier and owner of WFIN/WKXA/The FOX radio stations. The committee also received $1,000 contributions from Thomas Donnell, and RCM Architects, both of Findlay; Stifel Nicolaus & Co., Columbus; and Ivan and Dorothy Gorr, Cape Coral, Fla.

The committee also received a $500 contribution from Huntington National Bank, Columbus; and $250 contributions from Lynn R. Child of Findlay, Alvada Construction Co. and Kirk Bros. Co., both of Alvada.

Its largest expenditures were $13,393 to Findlay Publishing Co. companies; $1,730 to Kennedy Printing Co., Findlay; and $1,425 to RCM Architects.



City income tax

Save Our City 2010 received $900 in contributions. It spent $372, leaving $527 in its war chest.

The committee's largest contributions were $500 from Robert Sprague, $250 from Peter Sehnert and $100 from David Hackenberg, all of Findlay. Randy Ward of Findlay contributed $50.

Its three largest expenditures were $213 to Northview Rapid Print, Findlay; $85 to the Hancock Leadership Alumni Association, Findlay; and $46 to the Sign Shack, 109 S. Main St.

Separately, Findlay Firefighters Local 381 received $3,500 in contributions from the union and spent $2,921, leaving it with $578.

Its three largest expenditures were $1,568 to Victorystore.com, Davenport, Iowa; $1,153 to Kennedy Printing, Findlay; and $200 to the Hancock County Fair.



County sales tax

The Committee for a Better Hancock County received $2,875 in contributions and spent $1,591, leaving $1,283.

It received $500 contributions from H&O Services and FMT Inc., both of Findlay. It also received $250 from Rogers Sports Management Group, Findlay, and $200 from the Committee to Elect Ed Ingold, Findlay.

The committee also received $175 from Phillip Riegle, Arlington, and $100 contributions from Edwin Heminger, Findlay; Paul and Deborah Craun, Findlay; Duane and Kathleen Jebbett, Findlay; Jeffrey and Emily Walton, Jenera; Daniel and Christine Thornton, Van Buren; Reginald and Barbara Routson, Findlay; Allan Davis, Findlay; Oxley, Malone, Hollister, O'Malley & Warren, Findlay; and Craig Holmes, Findlay.

Its three largest expenditures were $700 to H&O Services, Findlay; $606 to Allegra Printing, Findlay (part of Findlay Publishing Co.); and $200 to the U.S. Postal Service.

Reiter: 419-427-8497

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3 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
Paul wrote:
Enough is Enough
“ Over the last few weeks the paper has run this or that info bit about the tax issues and how old the schools are. If the schools are as bad as they say they are (and I sure they are) why was there not a push to replace them say 10 years ago? Something like "Hey people of Findlay, we need to replace the middle schools. Lets replace one then in 5 years do another and so on ..."

Right now, with so many people out of work the last thing we need is another tax. No matter how you try to sugar coat it, it is still more money out of our pockets. It might sound like just $10 here and $8 there, but for people that do not have enough money to pay the bills they have because they have lost a job where are they to get that extra few $ at?

Both my wife and I lost our jobs withing 2 weeks of each awhile back and we just getting by. At the end of each month we have maybe $5 or $10 left over and there is nothing else we can cut from out budget. We have no internet, no cable TV, no movies, no dinners out anymore. Yet people pushing the taxes say it is only this amount or only that amount.

I still see the city of Findlay with a ton of excuses but only a bit of true spending cuts. Yes they did cut services they should not have BUT then they did not cut back in other areas that the SHOULD have. They are trying to scare use into passing the new taxes. Correct me if I am wrong but a few months back the city spent over $10,000 to have a company draw up plans to show how some unused space could be used. The city is quick to say it came from this account or that account. When my taxes are due can I use that reason? I will just tell the city I can not pay my taxes because I do not have the money it my tax account even though I have a ton of money in my vacation account?

The city wanted to sell some of the flood damaged building in the downtown area, but instead of selling them off, even at a loss, they did not. Come on people of Findlay, the buildings were damaged and never repaired, yet the city still wanted full asking price. So IF somebody was to buy them, they would then have to fix them up before they could even use them. No wonder they are not selling.

It is time for people in this city to take real action and force the city to change its ways, stop this blame game, stop ALL spending that is not 100% required. No more jobs where 4 guys show up yet only 1 or 2 are doing the work. No more pet projects. STOP letting anything be built in the flood plains and then making the tax payers pay for YOUR problems that you caused by letting somebody build in a flood zone. ”
Friday, October 23, 2009 3:12:14 PM
Shawn wrote:
Good Campaign
“ The schools have run a good campaign this time with the necessary information getting out to voters.

If they would have run a similar campaign in August they would have passed the levy at that time. Not sure who came up with the cloak and dagger approach last time. ”
Friday, October 23, 2009 11:06:48 AM
Tim from Bowling Green wrote:
CHUMP CHANGE
“ The $18 K raised really isn't that much money considering the fact we are talking about 54 million from Findlay taxpayers plus an additional 19 million from the State of Ohio. It's chump change, to say the least. ”
Friday, October 23, 2009 8:46:08 AM
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Benton Ridge Shooting

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After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

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CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

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Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

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The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.