To:
Rocky River City
School District, Rocky River City Government, Rocky River
Business Community, Fellow Residents
Dear Fellow Resident,
A Rocky River citizen group ‘Citizens Against Pork (CAP)’ will seek to impose ‘economic sanctions’ (specific rules and penalties if not followed) upon Rocky River city government to spend less, tax less and refund surplus money to taxpayers - is about to begin in Rocky River!
Why do I think this effort is important?
· Rocky River City Government approved ‘proposed budgets’ from 1990 through 2007 which totaled $661,496,781.99 that is $.66 Billion Dollars. That is from our tax dollars! To give you a very general idea of how much was proposed to certain areas of the Rocky River city government in 1990 through 2007, $186,558,881.00 was proposed for “salaries”, $58,900,326.00 was proposed for “fringe benefits”, and $416,037,574.99 was proposed for “other”. Regarding those said totals, I asked Rocky River City Government, Who Got What from those totals! Rocky River city government then told me to go to the basement of Rocky River city hall and go through dusty old boxes and I will find my answer.
· That is why I am now gathering together a Rocky River resident ‘political action committee’ named “Citizens Against Pork (CAP)”. Said committee will represent a Petition to amend the Rocky River City Charter (To Limit Rocky River City Government Spending, Surplus and Taxes) and once passed will make Rocky River city government accountable for our money and limit what they will spend in the future!
· So when enough valid signatures from Rocky River Voters will be collected we will be able to place on the Tuesday November 4, 2008 Rocky River Municipal Ballot this said ‘Charter Amendment To Limit Rocky River City Government Spending, Surplus and Taxation’ and to allow Residents to vote on said petition wording and pass it into Rocky River law.
· That is why I am asking your help to be a member of this ‘political action committee’, “Citizens Against Pork (CAP).” A committee of at least three (3) Rocky River residents are needed to have their names and addresses placed on every petition of this said charter change and you as a committee will have say and representation over this petition as it travels to the Rocky River Ballot. I will also need a Treasurer for ‘Citizens Against Pork (CAP) that will represent, collect and report to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections said committee’s finances.
This effort doesn’t cost anyone money to be a member of “Citizens Against Pork (CAP)” and when we are successful in passing this charter amendment at the Rocky River Ballot Box we as taxpayers of Rocky River will …
· Keep more of our money for ourselves and for our families, because Rocky River city government will be limited and spending less.
· We the Taxpayers of Rocky River will get a refund check from Rocky River city government on city money not spent, annually.
· We the taxpayers of Rocky River will have the chance to lower our property tax in Rocky River.
· We will also vote on Rocky River city government spending if it exceeds the limits imposed on it.
· Finally Rocky River city government officials will be held accountable on handling our tax money.
So why not be a committee member and or treasurer to this most honorable citizen effort to finally …
· Limit Rocky River city government’s financial power.
· Force Rocky River city government to live within its financial means.
· Make Rocky River city government more disciplined and efficient in handling of taxpayer money.
Finally as you read on …
· First: An Explanation – by a non-attorney – Fred Sokol (that’s me) of the ‘Proposed Charter Amendment Article X, Section 7 (Rocky River) Municipal Spending, Surplus and Taxation – Limits’
· Lastly: ‘a complete written version’ of the said proposed charter amendment article X, section 7 (Rocky River) Municipal Spending, Surplus and Taxation – Limits’.
If you want to be a member and or the treasurer of ‘Citizens Against Pork (CAP)’ call me at 440-521-5442 or
e-mail me at scrdhrt2@cox.net. I look forward to your call or e-mail.
Thank You – Respectfully, Fred Sokol
(An Explanation – By A Non-Attorney – Fred Sokol)
Proposed Charter Amendment
Article X, Section 7
(Rocky River) Municipal Spending, Surplus and Taxation – Limits
A.) SPENDING LIMITS (CITY SPENDS LESS AND TAXPAYERS’ KEEP MORE OF THEIR MONEY)
· Limit City spending increase (1.) by percentage rate of inflation and of population growth combined (2.) or by 3.5% whichever is largest (3.) ‘over’ total city spending from previous year.
· To increase city spending beyond its limit - a vote of the people will be required.
B.) SURPLUS LIMITS (REFUND CITY SURPLUS MONEY BACK TO TAXPAYERS ANNUALLY)
· A ‘Budget Reserve Fund’ will be established to hold the city’s money surplus.
· (1.) All (unencumbered money not reserved for a particular purpose) from the city’s ‘general reserve funds’ (2.) and 10% of all (unencumbered money not reserved for a particular purpose) from the city’s ‘non-general funds’ (3.) will be transferred to the ‘budget reserve fund’.
· (1.) If ‘budget reserve fund’ exceeds 20% of the city’s past year expenditures (2.) all said city money in excess shall be refunded back to Rocky River taxpayers.
C.) TAXATION LIMITS (ALLOW VOTERS TO LOWER THEIR PROPERTY TAX)
· (1.) All new city tax levies (2.) and all rate increases of all existing taxes (3.) will be decided through the vote of the people.
· (1.) Tax Levies assessed by Rocky River Rocky River Charter Law (2,) will be renewed or rejected annually (3.) through the vote of the people.
D.) EXCEPTIONS TO LIMITS (ALLOWS THE CITY TO PROCUR MORE MONEY IF NECESSARY)
· Limits in this entire said section can be waived for the city’s fiscal year only, if the following is completely followed:
· Mayor must declare a ‘State Of Emergency’ for certain instances only.
· Two Third’s of Council must vote “YES”.
· Then said ‘exception to limit’ will be decided through the vote of the people.
E.) ENFORCEMENT OF LIMITS (CITY OFFICIALS WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE ON HANDLING OUR MONEY)
· Laws will be set by council on what will happen to anyone who breaks the laws of this said entire section of Rocky River charter law.
· Lastly: ‘a complete written version’ of the said proposed charter amendment article X, section 7 (Rocky River) Municipal Spending, Surplus and Taxation – Limits’ – is next.
Thank You – Respectfully, Fred Sokol
Proposed Charter Amendment – New Section 7, Article X
ARTICLE X, SECTION 7.
MUNICIPAL SPENDING, SURPLUS AND TAXATION - LIMITS.
A) SPENDING LIMITS. The City Council shall not enact or otherwise authorize an increase in aggregate city expenditures for a fiscal year that exceeds the aggregate city expenditures for the previous fiscal year by a percentage that is greater than the sum of the rate of inflation plus the rate of population increase combined, or 3.5 percent a year, whichever was greater. (1.) The City Council may enact or otherwise authorize an increase in aggregate city expenditures that exceeds the foregoing limitation only upon passage of an ordinance which (a.) specifically identifies the amount and purpose of the excess expenditures and the means by which the revenue necessary to fund the excess expenditures shall be generated, (b.) receives the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the members of The City Council, and (c.) shall be subject to a vote of affirmation by a majority of electors at the next citywide special, primary or general election occurring more than sixty days after passage. (d.) If a majority of electors voting at such an election approve the ordinance, the ordinance shall take effect thirty days after the election.
B) SURPLUS LIMITS. A 'Budget Reserve Fund' shall be established by The City Council for the purpose of receiving and holding budgetary reserves for the City. (1.) Money may be appropriated directly to the said Budget Reserve Fund by legislation enacted by The City Council, provided that such appropriations to the Budget Reserve Fund for the fiscal year in which they are made shall be subject to the expenditure limitation established by subsection (A) of this section. (2.) Additionally, at the end of each fiscal year, all unencumbered money in the separate general revenue funds and ten percent of all unencumbered money in all non-general revenue funds, as determined by The Director of Finance for the city shall be transferred to the Budget Reserve Fund by The City Council. (3.) If, on the first day of the fiscal year, the said Budget Reserve Fund exceeds twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate city expenditures for the preceding fiscal year, all money in excess of that amount shall be refunded by The Director of Finance for the city on a pro rata basis to all individuals who paid Rocky River Real Estate Tax and/or Rocky River City Income Tax in the preceding calendar year. (4.) Money in the Budget Reserve Fund may be expended by The City Council for any lawful purpose, provided that the aggregate expenditures from their separate Budget Reserve Fund for the fiscal year in which such expenditures are made shall be subject to the expenditures limitation established by subsection (A) of this section. (5.) Any interest earnings from these said separate Budget Reserve Funds shall be credited to that specific fund.
C) TAXATION LIMITS. On and after the effective date of this section The City Council shall not (1.) levy a new tax, or (2.) increase the rate of an existing tax, without an affirmative vote of the majority of electors voting on the issue in the city (3.) and any and all tax levy and/or tax levies set and assessed by Rocky River Charter Law shall be renewed annually with an affirmative vote of the majority of electors voting on the issue in the city.
D) EXCEPTIONS TO LIMITS. However, The City Council may provide, by ordinance, that the limitations established in this section may be waived upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of The City Council, in a fiscal year only - (1.) in which the Mayor - shall first declare a ‘state of emergency’ caused only by a civil disorder, human suffering, flood, fire, storm or natural disaster - (2.) and if such a vote is subject to a referendum of the electors of the city.
E) ENFORCEMENT OF LIMITS. Council shall adopt and codify 'laws' that dictate what happens to elected Rocky River city officials and non-elected Rocky River city officials when they break the laws of this entire said section of Rocky River Charter Law.
F) All ordinances, resolutions, proclamations, motions and Charter provisions inconsistent with this section are hereby repealed and declared null and void.
G) This section’s subparts shall be severable and if any part, word or application thereof is held invalid for any reason, such holding shall not invalidate or affect the force and effect of any other part, word or application thereof.
H) DEFINITIONS. As used in this section:
(1.) "Fiscal Year" means The Municipal Corporation of the City of Rocky River, Ohio and of the County of Cuyahoga fiscal year.
(2.) "Aggregate City Expenditures" shall include all expenditures made by the Rocky River City Government - but shall not include expenditures (a) the source of funds for which is the federal government; (b) for tax relief; and (c) made from proceeds of gifts or bequests for purposes specified by the donor.
(3.) "Rate of Inflation" means the rate of national inflation, as measured by the United States Department of Labor's Consumer Price Index (or its successor) for the most recent calendar year for which data is available.
(4.) "Rate of Population Increase" means the rate of population growth in Rocky River, Ohio - as determined by the United States Bureau of the Census, for the most recent calendar year for which data is available.
(5.) "The City" means the Municipal Corporation of the City of Rocky River, Ohio and of the County of Cuyahoga.
(6.) "The City Council" means the Elected Body that passes legislation for the Municipal Corporation of the City of Rocky River, Ohio and of the County of Cuyahoga.
Fred I. Sokol - Resident – Rocky River,
Ohio - 440-521-5452 + scrdhrt2@cox.net
+ www.votesokol.com
CC: Rocky River City School District,
Rocky River City Government, Rocky River
Chamber of Commerce, WestLife , West Shore Sun, Plain Dealer Newspaper. Westlaker Times, Fred Sokol’s Weekly
E-Mail Recipients +
www.votesokol.com
Paid by: Vote
Sokol Committee - Thomas J. Spagnoletti,
Treasurer - 1459 Prospect Avenue, Rocky
River, Ohio 44116
