Why am I running?

Toledo is a wonderful community. We have so much to offer in this city - the Maumee River for boating and fishing and a beautiful downtown skyline. Our art museum is just outstanding as is our zoo. We have many beautiful parks to stroll through and have picnics in. The Symphony and local theater are true gems. We are home to Mud Hens baseball and will have professional hockey return this fall along with an arena football team.

I am frustrated by the party politics that surround us. We are all residents here, not pawns to be used in the political drama that never stops. Our elected officials seem to forget that WE THE PEOPLE pay their salaries and pay for their mistakes. Every tax or fee increase that is voted on affects each of us and our own personal budgets. Our city has a $21 million deficit this year and yet our City Council has spent $9 million on new trash cans which will be paid in 2010. Where will this money come from?

Why is Toledo in a budget crisis? The City's financial accounting process is archaic and outdated. It takes far too long for the city administration to release financial data. Adjustments to city business cannot be made in a timely manner. We are half-way through the budget year and just now the city government is beginning to respond.

What can be done in the short-term to balance the budget? Cutting all unnecessary spending is the only viable solution.

Why are people leaving Toledo? There are two reasons - a lack of job opportunities and high taxes. Other cities, counties, and states which do not suffer these problems attract investment and our citizens.

Why are companies leaving Toledo? High taxes, high labor costs, governmental interference (in terms of over regulation and punitive fees) and high utility costs. The bottom line is the cost to do business in Toledo is too high. In a fierce globally competitive market, maintaining a business in Toledo many times does not make sense.

Who is to blame? Both parties are responsible for the decades of decline in Toledo. Placing blame, though, does nothing to resolve the situation.

What can be done? There are several things our community can do to attract business development and investment. We must cut taxes to spur economic growth. Eliminate red-tape and roadblocks which impede and bog down business. We need to streamline city government processes and collaborate with other cities to reduce our expenditures.


Next - What can you do?