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Friday, April 29, 2011
$10 million cut is a ‘kick in the gut’ Dayton city manager says
Changes proposed to the state budget bill by House Republicans will dig a deeper hole for cities and counties to climb out of, according to local government officials.
Dayton City Manager Tim Riordan on Friday said the Kasich administration budget proposed a $7 million cut in overall state aid to the city but now the House version of the budget would chop out $10 million.
“It’s sort of like someone saying, ‘Here, let me help you lose weight,’ and then cutting off your arm,” Riordan said.
The House version eliminates the estate tax, which usually amounts to about $1 million a year to the city of Dayton, and it takes away a deal to shift more of the pension contributions to the workers and off the city’s ledger.
While the city has lost 15 percent of its population, it has trimmed 37 percent of its staff over the last 10 years, he said. And just because fewer people call Dayton home, doesn’t mean it snows less, fires stop breaking out or crime isn’t committed, Riordan said. “This $10 million — it’s a real kick in the gut.”
It’s not just the urban centers that are feeling the burden of a 50 percent drop in the local government fund, the elimination of the estate tax or the phase out of state reimbursements for the phased-out tangible personal property tax.
Vinton County Auditor Cindy Owings told the House Finance Committee on Friday that her county receives $189,000 in local government fund money each year. Without it, Vinton County would have to pass a property or income tax increase or lay off all 24 county employees and go without police protection.
Owings noted that the county already shares a jail with four other counties, shares a weights and measures inspector with Gallia County, and makes bulk purchases for all Vinton County offices.
Riordan isn’t shy about advocating for more shared services or consolidation. “I would favor a county-wide jurisdiction with all entities in,” he said. While Dayton is ready for serious discussions, Riordan said “nobody is knocking on our door.”
