Sales tax increase battle: Vote or no vote?
Cuyahoga County Commissioners Tim Hagan and Jimmy Dimora want to increase the county's sales tax, without a vote, to help build a Convention Center/Medical Mart.
Is this bold leadership to get an important project for the region completed or an end-run around democracy?
Is this bold leadership to get an important project for the region completed or an end-run around democracy?
posted by lbarr at
2:07 PM
15 Comments:
Like I said before when my comments were read on air, I agree with the commissioners who want to raise the sales tax without a vote. I do believe that many Clevelanders will not see the benefits that this Medical Mart could attract for the region, and just see the words "raise taxes" and would just vote it down without even thinking. Many people in our region only see the small picture and not the big picture, so I do not trust my fellow Clevelanders to vote in the best interest of the region. The Clevelanders' mindsets need to change because that is what is stopping us from becoming regionalized and competing in an increasingly global world.
We need to do whatever we can as a region to attract more businesses here, even if that means raising taxes. This is not just a Cleveland issue, it's a Cuyahoga County issue. We want Cleveland to be headed the way of Chicago and not the way of Detroit.
I have lived from the east to the west and in between and have never been taxed to the degree as in Ohio. I am currently making plans to relocate to a more tax-friendly locale. I would not mind if I saw improvements with the monies but I don't. I hope that this area can one day rebound.
Cleveland has the poorest city in the nation, and yet these Cuyahoga County Commissioners want to take even more money from them.
It's no wonder people are leaving Cleveland (and Ohio) for a better life in other states.
Ohio has little to offer except excessive taxes and failed leadership.
This sales tax idea is a desperate act by desperate politicians that have no new ideas other than tax the masses. Businesses and people are leaving Cleveland and Cuyahoga County in droves in the last 5 years (PD story) and even further but let's deal with the recent past.
This region has the same leadership both political and middle to upper management within the County and the Cities to come up with anything innovative. How about take the idea of reducing the sales tax and making Cuyahoga a progressive tax free area? Encourage people and businesses to come here? Oh I forgot that would impact these bureaucrats’ hefty paychecks and would require innovative thinking.
The people that can get in their cars will drive to the outskirt county’s to buy their goods and the one’s that cannot and can least afford it will pay the increase.
Although I agree that we need a new Convention Center and a mechanism to create jobs it can no longer be on the backs of the taxpayers. Public sector officials need to become more creative and find a way to fund projects through the public sector since they are the benefactors of the investments. This taxpayers well for new taxes has run dry.
Enough is enough already. Every time you turn on the news or open a newspaper, you see our "Leaders" wanting more money in levys and property tax, sales tax, cig tax, beer tax, and it keeps on going. Maybe we can tax our taxes? Only an IDIOT will vote for more taxes... More people are loosing their homes, buis and jobs, so where are these TAXES going to come from? Just goes to show you that we have some real rich idiots that we over pay to make these choices for us. Vote any tax increase down, if you don't, they will keep asking for more. Put a stop to this now. VOTE NO! Maybe they will get the idea we are fed up!!!
Regardless of how you stand on the comissioners move to increase the sales tax I feel that the people of Cuyahoga County have a right to decide at the polls. The taxes that we pay now are the highest in the state and I feel enough is enough. Let the companies that stand to benefit from the convention center foot the cost of the center.
I think it should be placed on the ballot for the community to vote on. I myself would not go for an increase. If that ever happened just think of how many people will try to go elsewhere to buy their products.
Cleveland (Cuyahoga County) is already in the news for either being one of the poorest cities, or for the mass exodus or 'flight' of citizens to other areas of the country! And these so called 'leaders' of ours have the gall to raise taxes again???!!! HELLO!!!! And then they wonder why they can't attract new business to NE Ohio!!! Forget about The Cavs 'rising up'... WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO 'RISE UP' AND VOTE AGAINST THIS INSANE TAX HIKE!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!
The only vision cleveland and cuyahoga politicions have is tax tax.
A sales tax increase is a good idea if it is for the right reason. I wouldn't mine a sales tax increase if it went for the schools in the county, but not for a rundown convention center and for a Medical Mart that isn't really going to help Cleveland to much.
As for what some other people said about Ohio taxes and especially this Cuyahoga county. You are right on the money. How about these dirty politicians start doing what they are suppose to do, and stop getting rich off of the poorest city in the US. We can't give no more.
Raising taxes for citizens is NOT the answer. Cleveland needs to stop the practice of giving tax abatements to companies that operate in the city. Existing tax abatements need to be phased out. Why doesn't Cleveland give tax abatements to people moving to the city? It's the same principle.
The Cuyahoga County Commissioners have this all wrong, and it is up to the taxpayers to correct them.
First, we need to encourage people to STAY in Cuyahoga County. If Cuyahoga County loses 2 life-long residents for every new resident, then Cuyahoga County will be nothing more then a transitional city in decline.
Secondly, has everyone forgotten about Governor Taft's $500 million Jobs for Ohio program? Why can't the State of Ohio help pay for a "Medical Mart" or the Convention Center they so desperately seek? Voters already approved $500 million to help existing and new high tech businesses, and a Medical Mart is an appropriate fit.
In Conclusion, I must say that the Commissioners should be more concerned about stopping the outflow of life-long residents. The only way to do that is to reduce the tax burden on existing residents so that they have more money to spend. That extra money in taxpayers pockets will be used to purchase everything from Hamburgers to MBA's - and businesses will flourish.
Cuyahoga County not only has the highest sales tax rate in Ohio, but the highest home foreclosure rate. The taxpayers should demand help instead of another tax when they are already financially stretched to the point of losing their homes.
WELL,WELL, SO HAGAN SAYS HE AND THE COUNTY ARE SUPPOSE TO DO WHATEVER THEY THINK IS BEST FOR THE PEOPLE IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY.WHERE DID HE EVER GET THAT KIND OF IDEA ? HE IS BACK TO HIS OLD TRICKS AGAIN.THEY SIT AROUND AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE ANOTHER BUCK OUT OF YOUR POCKET. WELL KEEP THIS IN MIND ELECTION TIME.THATS ENOUGH OF THIS KIND OF THINKING. HAVE A NICE DAY.
When medical mart proponents calculate the economic benefits of the proposed convention center and medical mart, they do not subtract the costs. The millions of dollars taken from county businesses and citizens to pay for this boondoggle would stimulate at least as much economic activity if left in the hands of those businesses and citizens. Multiplier effects don't begin when Forest City Enterprises gets their hands on the money.
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