Toledo Mayor Mike Bell is immersed in suggestions from his “CSI” team, searching for ways to reduce the city’s crushing deficit. It is certainly not a fun task, but it is one Bell knew would be a priority when he decided to run for the city’s highest office.

The headline-grabbing ideas include an “entertainment tax,” adding $1 to tickets for such Downtown events as Mud Hens and Walleye games and possibly other events, such as movies or concerts, and seeking voter approval for an income tax hike.

Bell and Toledo are in dire straits with the $44 million budget deficit, which must be balanced and implemented by Toledo City Council by March 31. All ideas must be explored, even unpopular ones, if multiple solutions are to be fused into one solution. But it must be made clear to Toledoans that all cuts and government spending options have been chosen before additional taxes are invoked.

A single buck may not sound like a backbreaker, but in an already overtaxed and financially stressed community, those bucks can add up for people looking to attend area events. There is a layer of irony in this as Fifth Third Field and the Lucas County Arena are already taxpayer-funded buildings. Will $1 stop people from going to a game or concert? Most likely not. Many folks will never realize where the additional dollar is going. But it’s not a sign of  goodwill and outreach to resort to taxes before cuts, no matter how painful.

The most painful but necessary area of scrutiny needs to fall on the fact that Toledo taxpayers cover full pension contributions for every unionized city employee. That 1996 blunder by the Carty Finkbeiner administration costs the city an estimated $10 million each year in funds it simply should not be paying. Bell floated a trial balloon to open talks about removing this albatross from around the city’s neck, and it was shot down faster than you can say, “Over our dead bodies.” The city’s unions are going to have to come to terms with giving up some ground on this issue, before state receivership or bankruptcy takes everything back.

On the subject of giving back, it should be noted that Toledo City Councilman Phil Copeland has publicly acknowledged that he has missed some committee meetings and should not be compensated for attending them. Toledo Free Press reported Jan. 21 that Copeland missed four main meetings and 15 committee meetings in 2009. On Feb. 2, he stood up and told council he will not be compensated for meetings missed in 2010 and would ensure compliance moving forward. That is the appropriate and honorable response, so Copeland deserves a nod of recognition.

Our city faces its most difficult and challenging decisions as it struggles to correct its wayward course and surge forward. That salvation will not come in miracle bundles of cash, but will be found $1 at a time. It must be understood that those dollars must be surrendered by government before they are levied on the citizens of Toledo.

Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 12:00 am and is filed under Opinion, Publisher's Statement.
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