Dear Beavercreek City Council, can I have a golf course in my back yard?

Having been involved in local issues for more than a decade, I keep telling myself to no longer get involved. When I come across some local issue or decision that infuriates me, I tell myself, “Tony, don’t get involved. Step away from the keyboard.” But like Michael Corleone, in the Godfather, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”

The attached DDN article, demonstrates the basic problem with the people we elect to manage our government. The vast majority of them have no concept of what the proper functions of government are at the city, state and federal levels.

The article covers several local cities, but we will concentrate on Beavercreek notables. Take a look at the quote by city councilman Jerry Petrak: “We had three separate golf consultants come in. All came to the conclusion that the course would be very viable. In retrospect, they were wrong.”

No Mr. Petrak, YOU WERE WRONG. A golf course is not a proper function of Beavercreek city government. The consultants were just doing their job, what exactly do you think a golf consultant was going to say? It was up to you to consider what was in the best interests of the city’s taxpayers. Those decisions are made by having a solid understanding of what should and what should not be funded by public money. If you, and others on the council at the time, would have thought along those lines, you would not have had to make the decision to build or not to build because you wouldn’t even have had contracted the consultants in the first place.

Yet, during the income tax debate, Jerry Petrak, Brian Jarvis and other council members were still defending the golf course. Even after the tax defeat, Mr. Jarvis is still going around, including on Facebook, saying the golf course was a good decision. Mr. Jarvis justifies the golf course by saying the property values of the homes near the course have increased. Then why not build one in every neighborhood? Specifically, please build another one by my house; pretty please, with a cherry on top. Preferably a par 3, so I can watch every hole play out. You can include a pond and some traps, but no trees, I don’t want any obstructions to my view. Since Mr. Jarvis claims he plays golf; I promise to give him a friendly wave from my chair as he plays through.

Seriously though, quit defending the indefensible! Does anyone in government understand the issues here?

We keep voting people into office, hoping they understand their roles in a society with limited government. What is limited government at the local level? You start with “roads and commodes,” i.e., infrastructure (yes this includes police and fire) after that, there isn’t much left. We can throw in parks, but you have to be careful, to a person in the Government Class, a golf course is a park.

I have come to the conclusion that no matter what some of these esteemed and distinguished people say, on the stump, or after being elected, whether they are from the Left, Right, or in the middle, they never come across a tax or a government program they don’t like. I guess the lure of having a new building with a plaque dedicated to them is just too tempting. Either they don’t understand their duties, are persuaded to act against their own beliefs, or just become corrupt.

And we continue to pay for it.

And they wonder why they lost the tax vote.

http://www.mydaytondailynews.com/news/news/taxpayers-pay-38-million-for-municipal-golf-course/nX6GY/?icmp=daytondaily_internallink_invitationbox_apr2013_daytondailystubtomydaytondaily_launch

Sign up for the City Charter Review Commission!

The defeat of the recent city income tax ordinance is not an end to itself; rather it was just another battle over who controls your money and certain aspects of your life. It is the same battle that has been waging for at least as long as recorded history and probably will continue to be waged well into the future.

Few people understand why so many Ohio cities have income taxes and Beavercreek does not; after all, Ohio law allows cities to enact a 1% income tax without voter approval. The reason is back when the city was incorporated, some very far sighted folks saw to it to put into the city charter that no income tax can be enacted without approval of the voters. This was a great gift to city taxpayers but not so much to politicians. And that brings us to the point of this article.

There is an opportunity on the horizon for you to contribute to the community and have an impact to your city above and beyond just voting or placing signs in your yard. The City has posted a call for volunteers for the City Charter Review Commission. A charter review commission is required every five years.

I served on the last commission, so I have a sense of why this is important and why we need good people on this board. While on the commission you will review the charter and make recommendations for charter changes. Topics for consideration and recommendations for changes can come from anyone. This includes council, city administrators, city employees as well as the public.

Some major topics we considered at the last commission included but were not limited to: income taxes, changes to mayoral duties, separate election for mayor, city emergency powers, council salaries, and council term limits. In addition to these items, a number of other administrative charter changes were also reviewed. I’m fairly certain that many of the same issues we dealt with will come up again. As a commission, you do not have authority to make changes to the charter, but you will have the important task of recommending or not recommending changes to council.

Since you couldn’t be in Philadelphia in 1787 to help put together the U.S Constitution, here is your chance to better this little corner of the world. If you are willing and interested, please take this opportunity to apply to serve on the board.

The link below connects you to the city website announcing the commission and instructions on how to apply. You only have until May 30th to throw your hat into the ring. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about commission duties and obligations. You may also contact Chad Whilding, who also served with me on the last commission. You can contact both of us through Facebook, through this site or through taxbusters.bck@gmail.com. Thank you.

http://ci.beavercreek.oh.us/2008/12/news-main/

Beavercreek Income Tax: Postmortem

Defeated by Nobody

“Who did you pass on the road?” the King asked.

“Nobody,” said the Messenger.

“Quite right,” said the King; “this young lady saw him too. So of course Nobody walks slower than you.”

Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There

I promised myself I would wait at least a week before commenting on the result of the May 7^th Beavercreek City income tax ballot. Well, here we are. I’ve already said everything there is to say about the tax law during the campaign, so here are just a few random thoughts about nobody.

When you take on political issues you open yourself up to a lot of attacks. In local politics, those attacks can get very personal because neighbor is pitted against neighbor. The nastiest people are those that feel their free ride might be in danger if this or that levy or ballot issue fails.

One recurring question from this group takes the form, “Who do you think you are opposing (this issue) and going against our elected representatives and their administrators?” When I’m asked this question I simply answer, “I’m a taxpayer.”

Along the same lines, a common accusation you might get levied against you from this group is, “Your actions will destroy our X.” Where “X” is “children’s education,” “city,” or any applicable group or entity paid for by… taxpayers.

It’s easy to see how misguided the accusations are. I do not have the power to tax. I do not have the power to regulate. I do not have the power to summon. I do not have the power to arrest. I don’t even have enough power to make abusing whatever power I do have worth the effort necessary to abuse it. However, these and other powers, in one form or another, are given to, and sometimes abused by, our elected representatives and their administrators.

I have very limited resources if I decide to take on an issue. I have to use my own funds or beg for donations. And I have to use the most precious limited resource I have – my free time. On the other hand, the government, in relative terms, has infinite resources to wage campaigns, using resources and salaries paid for in part by me.

The media doesn’t help that much. If you get any attention at all, it is usually in an article’s last paragraph and only as a novelty item at best or as a freak show at worst. If a number of people band together, and give themselves a name, say… TAX BUSTERS PAC, then your infamy may get bumped up a notch or two.

With all that said; who really has the power to impact your children’s future, the city you live in or any other aspect of your life? It’s your elected representatives and other government officials.

The Beavercreek income tax initiative failed because it was a bad law written by members of the Political Class ignoring the recommendations and needs of the Taxpayer Class.  The Political Class despises the Taxpayer Class because to members of the Political Class the Taxpayer Class is filled with nobodies. The Taxpayer Class is the Nobody Class. Therefore, if someone asks you who defeated the income tax initiative, you can respond with the following statement: “Nobody defeated the Beavercreek income tax initiative, and nobody is more powerful than that.”

 

Beavercreek Income Tax Ordinance Fails

 

On May 7^th, Beavercreek voters defeated the city’s income tax ordinance. This election is the third time an income tax was put on the ballot for a vote by the citizens, and the third time the attempt has failed.

 

Council also discussed income tax ordinances two other times.  However they never put those two on the ballot because of the outspoken dissent from citizens at the public input meetings.

 

The council body that brought us the latest initiative is made up of several veteran members as well as a number of new members. Apparently, the veterans learned nothing from the previous four attempts, and the new members, many of whom campaigned promising to think outside-the-box, fell to the temptation that it’s just easier to stay within the lines. All seven members of this council failed the Beavercreek community.

 

Now is not the time to rehash the campaign. However, TAX BUSTERS PAC congratulates voters who, given the level of the city’s energy, had the insight to check other information available to them and realize the city was offering nothing more than hype and that this ordinance was just bad law.

It’s not an anti-tax thing

The income tax law placed on the May 7 ballot is bad law!

An effective tax is one that is low and broad; when your ability to contribute is taken into account, the tax can be fair. The City of Beavercreek Income Tax is inadequate for the same reason that the Ohio Municipal Income Tax Law established in the 1960’s is inadequate. This law creates a 8class component because of the way the Ohio Legislature designed its income tax.

At the local level, it is even more important to handle issues and their solutions in an “above board” manner, as we are all neighbors.

However, there is no honor in asking your neighbor to pay more for something you have equal access to use, yet aren’t required to pay for, and all the while keeping your ability to influence outcomes through your vote.

With extra money in the General Fund and a new Capital Improvement Fund, council can oversee an unchecked expansion of services. It would be easy for council to convince themselves that any idea is worthy of funding when voter approval isn’t necessary. We still pay nearly $1 Million annually out of the General Fund for the debt service to the golf course. Council deliberated on the need for the golf course and acted without asking voters for approval, even though we’re the ones paying for it. The golf course is the perfect example of the what happens when council has full control of the purse strings. All these years since, as City Council will tell you, our infrastructure has crumbled around us. Voting the bums out AFTER the indiscretion is NOT acceptable; this action doesn’t erase the actions of a past council.

City Council was convinced that it was in our best interest to pay for streets on private property. The Greene was extended Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to offset the cost of the development. TIF revenue would have been deposited into the original City accounts for use across all Beavercreek services, right now the tax revenue goes to pay for the construction costs of the street infrastructure of The Greene. No other private development in the City has interior roadways structured under an agreement like this. No one can fault the developer for asking for this arrangement. In this way, past council members used this financial tool as a subsidy. Community leaders that really understand the intent of a TIF use it for items that support the whole community, like equipment or critical repairs.

Council is harping on the myth that non-resident workers aren’t paying for the services they are using and money is flowing out of our community and paying for services elsewhere. This is simply a gimmick. The employers in Beavercreek are paying Property Taxes just like you and me. The non-resident and resident workers are generating the sales and profits needed to pay commercial mortgages, rent and other fees to cover the tax liability. The workers don’t create the burden on infrastructure, the development does. It is our desire for dining, shopping and entertainment that made the development attractive for businesses and thus the costs associated with the infrastructure are our burden. The property tax revenue goes into the appropriate funds to pay for the services we have specified. Some of these workers are from cities where they pay an income tax to cover the services they have chosen for themselves. You can bet that these communities started with 1% and watched services grow unchecked. Our issue is that our services cost more than we have been WILLING to pay for. In these uncertain times, all cities with an Income Tax are thinking about adjusting the Income Tax credit to generate more Revenue. Thanks to my fellow TAX BUSTERS for insisting that council could not change this credit without OUR vote!

A certain group of citizens are only going to see the decrease. Another part of the community is going to see a large increase. This includes resident businesses and the ownership. Any net increase to a business owner from this tax structure is an increase that they must balance against profitability. If you are a supporter of our local businesses, you will see the indirect effects of this tax in higher costs of goods and services. Businesses and households have made a lot of adjustments in the last few years. It is unknown how much more expense either can absorb without making drastic changes.

Past councils have successfully turned our bedroom community into a mixed used community. Our property taxes are the lowest in the area and without an income tax Beavercreek is quite affordable. On March 31, 2013, the Dayton Daily News published an article showing that Beavercreek City was the lowest out of all city property tax rates in the region. Council has trumpeted the standard of living benefits of development without stressing the underlying realities of the impact. The realities of this growth are no justification for such a large unchecked money grab. It is imperative that the tax money is spent on the appropriate services, and not just council’s next pet project.

Kudos to our Street Department, because our streets are in better shape and are cleared much better and faster than other communities. Kudos to our police force as it is effective, proactive and responsive. Kudos to the Parks and Recreation because you provide a service for the general good. Kudos to the rest of our departments as you provide a function behind the scenes, but still vital. The Street and Police departments have ALWAYS been funded by levies and have achieved this outstanding level of service. The levy tax system gives US the POWER to vote for the service level WE want and the performance WE expect. If you approve the proposed Income Tax, you will give 7 members of our community complete power to decide how to spend OUR money. YOU end up loosing the POWER. Council will only ever listen to the side THEY are on, not YOU.

The Income Tax revenue must have stronger spending guidelines, privacy protections and a realistic conversion from a levy system to an income tax system. If you chose to live in Beavercreek because you wanted accountability, make sure you vote NO on May 7th.

Don’t give the Beavercreek City Council a blank check!

401k’s hammered by City Income Tax

Mayor Giambrone and the rest of City Council want us to believe the City Income Tax does not affect our 401k’s, 403b’s and other retirement plans.  Nothing could be further from the truth; just ask Albert Einstein, who some say believed “compound interest or time-value-of-money (TVM) is the most powerful force in the universe.”

To explain, although retirement savings are not taxed by the City when they come out of your retirement plan, they are taxed before they go in, and that’s the worst time for two reasons. First, the 1.5% is paid on 100 percent of earnings, so you’re actually paying City Income Tax on top of Federal income tax.

Second, depending on your age when you start contributing to a qualified retirement plan, you could be losing decades of compounded growth on a tax deferred basis. Even assuming a conservative 5% annual rate of return, that 1.5% taken out of your paycheck month in month out for decades could add up to tens of thousands of dollars.

If you do anything before the May 7th election, take this letter to your financial advisor,and if she disagrees, find a new financial advisor.

John Mitchel

Article 10: Us

A few months ago, a well know TV commentator asked the show’s guests what was the single most important cause for the country’s problems. The guests were from all sides of the political spectrum and the responses were typical: the president, congress, the Federal Reserve, the war(s), our debt and so on. But these answers were not what the host wanted to hear. After the round robin, the host finally gave the correct answer: the problem lies with “Us.”

For the past 100 years, our relationship with our governments (local, state and federal) has undergone a religious transformation. And I mean that literally. At one point, we understood that religious beliefs were not empirical but largely based on faith; whereas we demanded government officials provide empirical data before we would transfer power to them. Today, we scoff at religious institutions and demand empirical data from them, but then turn around and accept government promises on faith.

We had faith in our federal government when we accepted the income tax amendment in 1913, because we were told it would only tax the top few percent. We had faith in our government when we accepted the creation of the Federal Reserve, because we were told it would eliminate the boom and bust cycles. We had faith in our government when we were told the Square Deal, the New Deal, the Fair Deal and the Great Society programs were all going to eliminate poverty and create a social utopia at minimum cost. We had faith in our government when presidents and congressional leaders told us: “I am not a crook;” “Read my lips, no new taxes;” “I did not have sexual relations, with that woman;” “No one making under $250,000 will pay more taxes;” “Income taxes are voluntary;” and “We have to pass this law, to find out what’s in it.” These are but a few examples of the thousands of times we have put faith in our federal government.

At the state and local levels, we had faith in our state government when we were told that the lottery was going to solve education funding; which has now been updated to include gambling revenue. We had faith in city government when we were told that the Fairfield Commons Mall and the Greene (at different times) were the solutions to all city tax problems. We had faith in city government when it approved the golf course as a self-sustaining no-cost business enterprise that would bring in additional revenue to the city and put the city on the map. We had faith in city government when a former city manager provided the Greene developer the names and addresses of citizens who opposed the construction. These are but a few examples of the hundreds of times we have put faith in our state and local governments.

And how has all this worked out for our country and communities?

With all the empirical data on abuse and failures of government, our city council is asking voters to trust them on creating and managing a windfall revenue income tax law. Many have written and spoken extensively on why you should not vote for this law. The most important being the income tax law will transfer power between voters approving funds under a levy system over to seven politicians controlling a general fund without being answerable to the voters… until the money has been spent and then it’s too late. Remember, money can be spent legally but still unwisely.

I, and others, tried to work with council during the 2012 public work sessions on setting up an accountable system. But council claimed our recommendations were “too restrictive.” “Too restrictive?” So asking council, for example, to put before the voters, any major discretionary construction project for approval is too restrictive! What does this tell you about their intent?

At a recent joint presentation with the city on the upcoming income tax ballot, I tried to hit hard the mistake we would make in handing over so much spending authority to city council. An audience member asked me to cite examples of government waste from cities that have enacted income taxes. Being asked that question was equivalent to being hit in the gut. I thought, “Does this guy really want examples of government waste because he’s never heard of any?” Keep in mind I just told them about the $1M/year yoke around our necks otherwise called the Beavercreek Public Golf Course. But true believers, those who have absolute faith in government, will never ask the government to prove their accountability. But even if they did, the government answer would be, “Trust us.” Which if you think about it is equivalent to asking someone to accept something as religious faith. (You may now wish to reread my second paragraph.)

With over 5,000 years of historical knowledge and experience in the limitations of government; that is, what works and what doesn’t, many still do not understand the proper functions of government at federal, state or local levels, including the appropriate ways to properly finance legitimate public projects. Included in this history is the power struggle between peoples and their governments. This is not an esoteric argument for political science classes. It is not meant only for DC or Columbus. It comes down to your rights, your money and your community.

Regarding the city income tax ordinance, there are people who will vote for this law because they believe they might benefit financially under the property/income tax switcheroo, and there are the faithful who want to believe “their” city government always acts in the public good without a need for voter approval. When we let those combined numbers rise above 50%, as it often does, the problem lies with Us. “Us” is the ultimate check and balance.

Veto the Beavercreek City Council. Vote NO on May 7th.

Don’t be fooled!

Once again, Beavercreek City Council is trying to scam its citizens into passing an Income Tax.  This ordinance has as many problems, if not more, than the two tax ordinances voters defeated before.  Even if you support the income tax, this one has far too many problems to be good for either the citizens or the city.  Ensure that you read the ordinance carefully to see how it really will affect you.

Council is working hard and spending a lot of taxpayer money (i.e., In Touch and recent mass mailings) to convince senior citizens to pass this income tax; pushing the fact that seniors won’t have to pay the tax but by passing it they will lower their property taxes.  That’s true to the extent that the three levies we are now paying will not be renewed once they expire.  Since they don’t all expire at once, that means, until 2017, you will pay both the levies and the income tax, if it passes.  Even if seniors pay a couple of hundred dollars a year less in property taxes, this won’t make much difference as the largest portion of property taxes will still go to the schools.  The city collects 15 percent of your property tax, but it is only going to be a 10 percent reduction of your total property tax bill.

I find it hard to believe that seniors, who were raised in the same generation as I, would fall for this scam and willingly dump a financial burden on their working neighbors, children and grandchildren.  Even worse, has everyone forgotten that many seniors have to work in order to supplement their retirement?  These working seniors will have to pay the income tax.  What kind of break is that for those seniors when they wouldn’t be working at all if they could afford to live on their retirement?

Consider also that all of our businesses, if they can even afford to stay, are going to raise their prices to help cover their additional expenses of paying the income tax.  No one, including seniors, is going to be exempt from that cost increase.

There is absolutely no accountability in this income tax.  Council has designated a minimum of 20 percent of the tax for “capital improvements” but we don’t know 20 percent of how much.  Council didn’t even define what capital improvements are, therefore, they could mean anything council want them to mean.  The rest of the tax money collected will go in the General Fund where council is free to spend those funds on anything their little hearts desire.

There is no accountability in this ordinance to the taxpayer.  Without the proper property tax reduction guarantees and spending safeguards, which this ordinance does not have, this windfall revenue would be a temptation for uncontrolled spending that will affect the quality of life in Beavercreek for every citizen and business.  Property tax levies require taxpayer approval, giving us control over the kind of city we want to live in.  If the income tax passes, you will give up your right to control the purse strings, giving council free reign on how they spend your tax money.  Once you give up the power to hold them accountable, that power is gone and there is no way you will ever get it back!

Don’t let the seven year length of the tax fool you.  With all our levies expired at the end of seven years, we will have no money coming in to keep the city running so our backs will be against the wall.  Our services will have expanded we will have to return to a higher level of property taxes, remain with the income tax or, more likely, have to pay more income tax.  Have you ever seen government stop collecting tax money once they have it?  The answer is – never!  They just increase the amount they want because the more they have, the more they want.

For citizens to hold council accountable, they must read this ordinance in order to see what bad law it is. Council has designated “a minimum” of 20 percent of the income tax for “capital improvements”, but we don’t know 20 percent of how much.  Council didn’t even define what capital improvements are, therefore that could mean anything council wants it to mean.  The rest of the tax money collected will go in the general fund where council is free to spend those funds on anything their little hearts desire.

There is no accountability to you, the taxpayer.  Without the proper property tax reduction guarantees and spending safeguards, which this ordinance does not have, this windfall revenue would be a temptation for uncontrolled spending that will affect the quality of life in Beavercreek for every citizen.  Property tax levies require taxpayer approval, giving us control over the kind of city we want to live in.  If the income tax passes, you will give up your right to control the purse strings, giving council free reign on how they spend your tax money.  Once you give up the power to hold council members accountable, that power is gone and you will never get it back.

Don’t let the seven year length of the income tax fool you.  With all our levies expired, we will have no money coming in to keep the city running so our backs will be against the wall.  Our services will have expanded.  We will have to return to a higher level of property taxes, remain with the income tax or, more likely, have to pay ,more income tax.  Have you ever seen government stop collecting tax money once they have it?  The answer is – never!  They just increase the amount they want because the more they have, the more they want.

For citizens to hold council accountable, they must read this ordinance in order to see what bad law it really is.  You have held council accountable by voting on levies ever since we’ve been a city.  Let them know you won’t give up your right to determine where your tax money is spent.  Demand the control  over your tax money by keeping the levies and voting NO on the income tax.

Never take the first offer!

In Beavercreek, we’ve hit this rut where our elected officials throw out a “first offer” in an attempt to measure voter support. This time it is an income tax ordinance (again). Even with highly publicized difficulties as a result of state budget cuts, this “first offer” is a doozy!

When comparing the projected income tax revenues against the expiring levies there is a 8 fold increase of $8.9M in 2014 alone and after 2017 a 17 fold increase of $17M (the city is assuming you would have passed a replacement levy for each existing levy). Our infrastructure problems didn’t just get installed overnight! We’ve allowed them to grow over decades through complacency. It seems to me that the City should have been publishing an “inventory”, as they have come to call it, a long time ago.

Ohio HB 5 (municipal income tax uniformity) is going to take even more local options away. If you think this “first offer” is final, just wait, the State will come along and change it for us. The final version of HB 5 isn’t flushed out yet, but it could very well affect the business carry over of losses and individuals under the age of 18.

Levies are based on fixed revenues and thus control spending. The City should continue with the levy process until we work through the necessary funding issues. For instance, there is no budget set for the new Income Tax Department, nor is there even a cap on department spending. The council intends to hire an agency to collect and administer the tax (cost is unspecified at this time) AND create a Tax Department with a Director and a support staff (estimated to costs us $200,000). If the hired agency does all the dirty work, what role will the Tax Department staff fulfill? No details have been provided.

In the case of a tax dispute, you have only one option: there is a panel of your neighbors who will hear your case and pass judgment. You don’t have the option to have a lawyer argue your tax case in a court of law. As Tony Corvo pointed out, there are no processes to ensure you know who has accessed your tax information. Even if the disclosure of your financial information is a misdemeanor, is it the City’s responsibility to inform you of an indiscretion? Doubtful! How can you ensure who is accessing your financial information? It is up to you to bring a criminal charge against anyone using your financial information in the wrong manner.

In seven years, we get to have this discussion again. This is a blessing and a curse. In seven years, the need for an income tax won’t go away. The council will spend all of the Income Tax revenue because we will have a new level of service. We will always have to pay a tax; either as a levy or as an income tax. The game is completely changed. In seven years, the council will be threatening us with the de-funding of three complete departments: Police, Roads and Tax. A future Council may actually debate returning to a levy system vice an Income Tax. But that debate will just be a rouse. You can also guarantee that council will provide justification for an increase. Since the spending controls are lax, we will be paying for an expanded senior center, more developed parks, a youth center, and a recreation center and any other project that council can label as “capital improvements” and “other expenses of the city”. They have told us so in the In Touch.

Major capital improvements must be placed on a ballot to allow the taxpayers to vote on such expenditures. TAX BUSTERS demanded such rights and we were ignored. But with income tax revenues going into a general fund, an act of council is all that would be necessary to spend the money.

Keep the power to spend your money in your hands. Vote NO! We deserve better!

Income tax targets Base workers

Beavercreek residents working as civilians and contractors at the Base will be hit unfairly if the proposed city income tax passes. Beavercreek city council wants them to hand over another 1.5% of their salaries which have already been deeply cut by pay freezes, looming furloughs and contract stoppages. A GS-12 step 1 midlevel engineer makes about $60,000 per yr and under the city’s proposed income tax would have to pay $900 in income taxes per year. What about the property tax reduction? First of all the reduction is only about 10% of our total property tax bill and would take 3 years to reach the full reduction. The engineer would have to live in a $400,000 house before the property tax reduction equaled the income tax payment. And if the husband and wife both worked or their 18 or older children, the income tax bill per household could be double or more.

I retired from my engineering job at the Base last July and my pension would not be subject to the income tax. However I am still opposed to it because of its lack of accountability and because it’s less democratic than levies. Levies have served Beavercreek well for 30+ years and are accountable and democratic since they fund a specific service and voters get the chance to decide every few years if they’re still happy with the services and the price. Contrast this with income tax revenue that gets allocated and spent by a majority of 7 council members. It’s also less fair–I do not want to pass my city tax burden onto my neighbors and former coworkers at the Base.

Several members of Beavercreek city council who are retired apparently dont mind passsing on their tax burden. No doubt they’re eagerly looking forward to spending other people’s tax dollars on their pet projects.