Tax Increase Necessary For PAY Raises?

With the November election pending, it is an interesting time to look back and reflect on the year 2005. The Mayor wrote a letter to the editor. The Sun Messenger wrote an article. South Euclid was in dire need of passing a tax increase on the upcoming ballot. It was indeed a state of emergency for the City of South Euclid according to Mayor Welo and the Sun Messenger. The Messenger quotes Welo as saying, “South Euclid won’t be recognizable as it is today”.

Jump two years ahead to present day 2007. It appears there is plenty of money to go around now. The Mayor was awarded a 16% pay increase by City Council. City Council voted to increase their OWN pay, and nearly every member of the administration was given a raise.

The original plea for a tax hike was supported in part by the need for better snow removal and other service equipment. Has there been a noticeable and significant improvement of these services?

Welo cited, “…Northeast Ohio’s weak economy…” in her letter written a mere two years ago. The City has borrowed $17 million for the purchase of Cedar Center and $1.8 million to purchase the “Greenvale 9”. Were these all frugal and prudent decisions on the part of the administration and council, who are supposed to be the guardians of the taxpayer’s money? What a difference two years have made.

The article and letter to the editor below were in the Sun Messenger on July 28, 2005.

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End The Quest For This White Elephant

Sun Messenger editorial from September 20, 2007. The Sun Messenger has captured the basic sentiment regarding the Rec Center: No tax increases to pay for recreation that is available at other facilities in the area. Both the executive and legislative branches of Lyndhurst's government took action over a year ago, and still not even one public meeting hosted by the city of South Euclid. Why did South Euclid exert money and time towards this issue for so long without ever letting the community weigh in? Regionalism should not be shelved entirely, but for a Rec Center to be the first serious proposal involving the Hillcrest suburbs is not effective leadership. In the future the entire public and not just known supporters should be strongly encouraged to participate in preliminary discussions regardless of what the topic may be. It is behavior such as this that gives some people qualms when it comes to regionalism. Please click on image to view full-size.

Cedar Center Opposition

This letter to the editor appeared in the Sun Messenger on January 11, 2007. Please click on image to view full-size.

Point-Of-Sale : Ordinance 65-05

The City of South Euclid already has exterior inspections.

Why implement these extreme measures when a program for this is already in place?

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This Program Has Great Potential

This article appeared in the Sun Messenger on August 30, 2007.

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