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Rocky River City Income Tax -
Eliminated
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My
Proposed Charter Addition!
1.
This is a (city income tax cut by one third) from 1½% to 1%
for those earning an income in Rocky River.
2.
Also a (100% credit from Rocky River income tax) for
residents earning an income in localities outside Rocky
River – (equal to Rocky River’s income tax rate).
ARTICLE 7, SECTION
8.
MUNICIPAL INCOME
TAX RATE AND RESIDENT TAX CREDIT.
A)
The Municipal Income Tax Rate upon all taxable income subject to
taxation under the ordinances of the City of Rocky River shall
be at the rate of one percent (1%);
B)
The Resident Income Tax Credit allowable to residents of the
City of Rocky River on all taxable income subject to taxation
under the ordinances of the City of Rocky River and taxed in
another municipality or joint economic development district
shall be equal to 100% of the tax paid to such municipality or
joint economic development district up to a maximum rate equal
to the Municipal Income Tax Rate provided for in Section (a)
above;
C)
The effective date of the provisions contained in Sections (a)
and (b) above shall be January 1st of the year
following its approval by the electors of the City of Rocky
River;
D)
Any provisions contained in the codified ordinances regarding
the Municipal Income Tax Rate and the Resident Income Tax Credit
in conflict with or inconsistent with Sections (a) and (b) above
are hereby repealed and declared null and void effective upon
the effective date contained in Section (c) above;
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Question?
DO YOU WANT EXTRA SPENDING MONEY
IN
YOUR POCKET FOR YOURSELF
AND FOR YOUR FAMILY? IF SO ....
ELIMINATE -
CITY INCOME TAX
ROCKY RIVER
RESIDENTS DESERVE TAX RELIEF !
1.
Rocky River Citizens' "median household income" fell from
$53,485 in 1990 to $51,636 in 2000, U.S. Census 2000 reports.
2.
Tax and Spend’ Rocky River City Government
showed in their 1990 to 2002 "estimated resources" a total of
$521,896,316.07 and their "estimated proposed budgets" showed a
total of $414,018,168.60.
Both totals showed an increase
of more than 100% from 1990 to 2002.
3.
Rocky River City Government has millions of
dollars in their coffers and can afford to eliminate Rocky River
city income tax to "effectively increase" citizen and business incomes and
their ability to spend.
4.
Eliminating Rocky River City Income Tax will "effectively increase"
city taxpayers incomes and allow them to spend more of their
money for themselves, their family and in Rocky River.
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FRED I. SOKOL'S
THOUGHTS ON !
" ARGUMENTS TO
ELIMINATE
ROCKY RIVER'S
CITY INCOME TAX."
______________
"Tax cuts will
correct Rocky River’s economic slump. We will spend our tax
savings to stimulate our local economy. Hello?
Tax cut
opponents say Rocky River government needs our tax money.
It is our money! Try guessing who opposes this tax cut?
Tax cut
opponents want Rocky River government to get more tax money.
Stop whining and write them a check."
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September 19, 2004
Residents of Rocky River
Rocky
River, Ohio 44116
' WE
CAN AFFORD
ROCKY
RIVER 'TAX RELIEF'
FOR
ROCKY RIVER TAXPAYERS! '
Dear Fellow Rocky
River Resident,
“They asked for a tax
increase in November … while taxpayers asked for tax
relief.
When I am elected Rocky River
Mayor … this is how I will ‘take back Rocky River' for
residents. … I will account to residents where the
half a billion dollars in
tax money was spent in the last 14
years. …
I will add … tax cuts …
for Rocky River citizens.”
Fred I. Sokol … from
“Take Back River” June 7, 2004
The City of Rocky River’s
‘Total Net Assets’ - at end of 2003 is
$42,474,266.00.
Also,
The Rocky River Waste Water Treatment Plant’s
‘Total Net Assets’ – at end of 2003 is
$26,635,650.00.
If
we combine The ‘Net Assets’ of
The City of Rocky River
and
The Rocky River Wastewater Treatment Plant
… the ‘Total Net Assets’ will be -
$69,109,916.00
for
The City of Rocky River
and
The Rocky River Waste Water Treatment
Plant.
It is about time we get a Rocky River tax
break!
When I ran for Rocky River City Council
At-Large in 2003 one of my main issues was a ‘Rocky
River City Income Tax Cut and Tax Relief’. It is still
one of my main issues I will support when I run for
Rocky River Mayor in 2005.
Yet some Rocky River residents were
uneasy about getting Rocky River tax relief because they
thought Rocky River was broke. Rocky River isn’t
broke.
As Mayor of Rocky River I will make sure
Rocky River taxpayers will keep more of their money for
themselves and their family … instead of you paying more
tax money into the City of Rocky River’s Treasury.
Yet how do you ‘define’ Rocky River’s Net
Assets? The answer is … a financial total … that
represents the difference – between ‘Rocky River’s total
assets and its total liabilities.
Again, it’s about time we get a Rocky
River tax break!
NET ASSET' REPORT
SUPPLIED BY
City Of Rocky River, Ohio
Statement of Net Assets December 31, 2003
Rocky River Wastewater
Treatment Plant Statement of Net Assets December 31,
2003
Fred I. Sokol,
Resident
Rocky River, Ohio
www.rockyriverfred.com
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(READ BELOW)
HOW TO ELIMINATE ROCKY RIVER TAX
- AND
-
HOW ROCKY RIVER
CITY GOVERNMENT
CAN SPEND MORE EFFICIENTLY!
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HOW TO 'ELIMINATE'
CITY INCOME TAX .
1. Cut needless bloated city government
size/ power/
spending. Stop
regional sewage plant and Rocky River Municipal Court.
2.
Our tax money need not be spent on Rocky River's strong
mayor government that has a "their-ocracy" to ignore residents.
In 1996 - River taxpayers voted
unofficially 6,384 to 4,331 to defeat a new Rocky River court
building.
City Hall then went on to ignore River
taxpayers’ vote and built a multimillion dollar court, memorial hall and rec
center anyway.
3. Cut wasteful Rocky River City government spending.
Cut the need for tax money. Lower taxes will attract and keep residents/ businesses
in Rocky River. That simple!
FRED I. SOKOL
HOW CAN
ROCKY
RIVER
CITY HALL CUT 'UNNECESSARY CITY SPENDING'
& REPORT CITY
FINANCES.
Rocky River's 2003 proposed spending budget is
$40,482,439.39. An $8,745,542.20 cut
from 2002's budget.
Now, spend even smarter
and report finances to taxpayers at council meetings. We
deserve such a city government.
Why did Rocky River’s ‘proposed spending
budget’ increase 121% from 1990 to 2002. This should
not happen again.
To cut more
money
in future budgets, council
must:
Slash further unneeded spending.
Not slash funds we need.
Cut our sewage plant and municipal
court funding responsibilities. Fix our streets, sewers
and waterlines.
Cap any Rocky River over spending to
only 3% more than their previous year’s actual income.
Finally spend smart, let taxpayers keep saved money. Be
accountable and report City Government finances at council meetings.
FRED I. SOKOL
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' MONETARY AND FISCAL
STEPS '
THAT WILL
JUMP-START
ROCKY RIVER'S ECONOMY, AND
"EFFECTIVELY
INCREASE"
ROCKY RIVER TAXPAYER'S INCOMES.
I don’t expect Rocky River government to lift a finger to lighten our tax load
with new tax cuts. Rocky River government stunts our local economy by over taxing
and
spending millions of our tax dollars. It eats our income, limits our spending
and people move from Rocky River.
Rocky River government’s tax and spend is out of control and must diet. Rocky River must take three
(3) vital steps to attract and keep residents and
businesses.
( First
Step).
Eliminate
Rocky River city income tax to
"effectively increase" consumer/business
income and spending.
1.)
Eliminate City Income Tax.
2.)
Some opponents will mislead us
by saying tax cuts will cut city services, libraries, parks, police, fire,
garbage pickup, snow removal. Tax cuts will cut city surplus not budget.
(Second
Step).
Encourage
Rocky River businesses
to spend more in their enterprises.
1.)
Cuts in City income tax will put more
money in working people’s pockets to spend at local shops, grocery stores,
restaurants or invest at local banks.
2.)
When local businesses start
taking in added money from consumers and getting cuts in city income tax, they
will invest it in expansion and create more jobs.
(Third
Step).
Cut
needless city government spending
and put saved money in reserve.
1.) First, establish a
permanent/independent citizen’s committee to study and publicly propose "cost
cutting from the top down" from City Government operations.
2.) Any cuts in city government
spending will not affect the present Police, Fire and City Service
Departments. All present city employees keep jobs.
3.)
Turn needless Rocky River
Municipal Court into a "Mayor’s Court." Revenue will stay in Rocky River at a
smaller scale of cost of operation. Besides, in 1996 Rocky River taxpayers voted
unofficially 6,384 to 4,331 to defeat a new Rocky River court building.
4.)
Next, sell Waste Water Treatment
plant to Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. To own plant may not even
stop perhaps an 80% Rocky River sewer bill hike.
5.)
Also quit Rocky River City
Government’s "gymnasium/activities" business. Care for the city, protect the
general population of citizens. Leave gym and activity facilities benefiting
few to the private sector.
6.) Last, put money saved in reserve
for tax cuts and upgrade our city infrastructure. Contractors based in Rocky
River and residents must work the construction jobs to fix our aging and
sagging sewer system, water lines, and streets throughout our neighborhoods. Tax money stays in Rocky River stopping future need for tax increases.
(Conclusion)
Cutting costs from Rocky River government operations is vital. It will
create less need for taxpayers money and allow more money for taxpayers
pockets.
Finally, cuts in city income tax will attract and keep residents and
businesses in Rocky River, increase our income, spending, jobs and stimulate
our local economy.
Phasing out our city income tax to benefit financially our residents and
local businesses will be hard but it’s harder to ignore their need. It’s time
to make a change.
FRED I. SOKOL
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 Fred
I. Sokol Speaks Up For:
Phasing-Out Rocky River
City Income Tax
“ ... (1) Phase Out Rocky River income tax to increase consumer
and business spending. (2)
Encourage Rocky River businesses to
spend more in their enterprises. (3) Cut needless city government
spending.”
my
quote
given:
@ (Rocky River City Council 6-24-2002)
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Rocky River’s "Economic Paternalism"
(an
editorial)
Dear Fellow Rocky River Residents,
Instead of kudo’s for Rocky River’s "paternal government" concern to save Westgate Shopping Center. Tell me
why Westgate Shopping Center is near collapse on Rocky River’s watch?
Why sweeten with kudo’s the
rotting carcass of River government’s old and failed "economic paternal
planning?" Then expect it to be successful with Westgate Shopping Center?
Rocky River recently lost three major "employer" businesses. Rocky
River City Hall knows their names and why they left.
Rocky River’s income and spending power plummet. Rocky
River Government’s "old and failed plans" to be a "Paternal-Central
Planner-Tax-Spender" brought us to where we are now and must be eliminated!
A "New Economic Plan" to cut taxes, increase consumer and city
business income/ spending, cut needless city government spending will stimulate
Rocky River’s economy.
"Kudo’s" to River citizens who spend money locally. "Kudo’s"
to local businesses who spend to expand and add new employees. Kudo’s to
those who stay in Rocky River and those who support this "New Economic Plan."
Then Rocky River residents/businesses will decide where our city’s economy
will head, not just our "Paternal" Rocky River City Government.
Fred I. Sokol
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Rocky River Spells Tax Relief
(an
editorial)
Dear Fellow Rocky River Citizens,
Fellow Rocky River residents’ as "The
Committee Up-Against Taxes (CUT)" are petitioning voters’ signatures to cut
Rocky River income tax.
A tax cut by one-third from 1½% to 1% for those earning an income in Rocky
River. For residents earning an income in localities outside Rocky River equal
to Rocky River’s income tax rate, a 100% credit from Rocky River income tax.
We plan this proposal for the Rocky River ballot as a charter change.
Intention of our effort upon passage is to increase our incomes, spending,
jobs and stimulate our local economy. Also to attract and keep residents and
businesses in Rocky River.
Rocky River government’s surplus pays this tax cut not their
budget. This is fair local tax relief.
Fred
I. Sokol
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Economic Trouble
in River City!
(an
editorial)
Dear
Fellow Rocky River Citizens,
On June 3rd U.S.
Census 2000 released figures showing Rocky River’s "median household income"
fell 3½% from $53,485 in 1990 to $51,636 in 2000.
This troubling information including other Northeast Ohio
communities was reported on June 4th by The Plain Dealer Newspaper.
Unfortunately at the time of this letter was not reported by one other local
weekly Newspaper.
Nor at the time of this letter have Rocky River’s elected
representatives offered (at city council meeting) specific economic steps to
"increase" Rocky River’s "median household income."
New economic steps I like to offer are, (1) Phase Out Rocky
River income tax to increase consumer and business spending. (2) Encourage Rocky
River businesses to spend more in their enterprises. (3) Cut needless city
government spending.
These economic steps are not
from a secret think tank, nor decoded from a cloak and dagger internet web site.
These "economic steps" are being discussed and acted upon by our Elected
Officials in Washington, D.C.
If "all politics is local" these
economic steps are "national." May I suggest our "local" elected Rocky River
officials take note and act on them.
Fred I. Sokol
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