Preemptively:
Regionalism (in its’ purest form) means less political offices/officers.
This isn’t necessarily a Bad Thing.
Until Sunday...
:-)
posted by Hooda_Thunkit at 02:02 P.M. EST on Fri Jul 22, 2005 #
I haven’t reached my conclusion on regionalism, but my impression is that Toledo is jealous of all of the businesses moving out of town and is looking for alternatives to still have power over them.
How about taking into consideration why all of the jobs and people moved in the first place!!! The businesses and citizens moved over for lower property taxes, lower income taxes and better school systems. How about taking a strategy form their playbook and giving it a whirl!!
posted by lloyd at 02:50 P.M. EST on Fri Jul 22, 2005 #
Ummmm, Lloyd, property taxes in Perrysburg, Maumee and Sylvania are not cheaper. And as was reported last year, Perrysburg and Sylvania are both facing some serious issues with their school systems.
The primary strategy in keeping business is cooperation, recognition and accommodation (in a fair way) that will benefit both sides of the equation.
posted by DoknowDocare at 04:42 P.M. EST on Fri Jul 22, 2005 #
"... property taxes in Perrysburg, Maumee and Sylvania are not cheaper."
Maybe not. But there's no denying that the product coming out of the Sylvania and P-burg's public school system is much better than what comes out of TPS, at least according to the state's testing system. I'm simply comparing test scores, and it's not even close.
It's one thing to have high property taxes go to a school that scores nearly perfect on the measuring system, versus taxes going to a school system that hovers around Academic Emergency.
posted by jr at 11:30 P.M. EST on Fri Jul 22, 2005 #
Of course I understand taxes are higher in Perrysburg. This is because the average house value is quite higher. Taxes are lower though, per $1000. For example, I live in a small $100,000 house in Toledo and my taxes are $2,000 per year. My friend who lives in Perrysburg, who's house is worth $200,000, should pay $4,000 per year based on Toledo's tax rate. He only pays $3,000 per year. Therefore, taxes in Perrysburg are less.
posted by lloyd at 11:36 P.M. EST on Fri Jul 22, 2005 #
Lloyd, are you thinking of Unigov? That is a power grab. And it would probably increase the layers of government. The word on the street is that if JFo doesn't get reelected that whole deal will go down the tubes. But I digress.
Regionalism is more encompassing with fluid and flexible borders. Instead of politicos fighting over residents (aka tax base) and potential businesses for their specific municipalities/townships/counties an entire area is available and everyone benefits.
For example, if a business wanted to move to Toledo they would be regaled with all Toledo has to offer: Art Museum, Zoo, etc. If a company wanted to move to this region - call it what you will - it would be regaled with Lake Erie, Ann Arbor, etc. plus all Toledo had to offer.
That doesn't change the tax structures you mention in your last post. I live in Toledo too and consider my taxes especially onerous because I send my daughter to private school rather than TPS so I am paying much higher.
I believe regionalism is the only way to help lower those costs by attracting businesses with an array of features and benefits rather than just giving away TPS funds and making homeowners responsible for the shortfall.
posted by thinkingwoman at 09:18 A.M. EST on Sat Jul 23, 2005 #
Toledo is the cancer in NW Ohio. Rather than linking themselves to a cancer, surrounding communities should seek to isolate themselves from it.
If there is any sort of economic development zone or area of intergovernmental cooperation, it should involve just these same surrounding communities and not Toledo.
Toledo would just suck the life out of any such arrangement and try to pervert it towards its own selfish and misguided interests at the great expense of the surrounding communities.
Given enough time, Toledo could be bulldozed and turned into a sort of common for Maumee, Perrysburg, Sylvania etc.
swd
posted by swd at 01:57 P.M. EST on Sat Jul 23, 2005 #
SWD, I find you comment amusing, brutally honest and slightly " the glass half empty view". Maybe I'm a daydreamer thinking that Toledo's political climate will ultimatly change, but who knows my "half full glass" might be full of polluted Maumee River water.
posted by lloyd at 12:16 A.M. EST on Mon Jul 25, 2005 #
Syndicate ToledoTalk
