The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1928-11-02
The Proposed
Tax Amendment to
the City Charter /
To the Voters of Hamilton:

believe to be duty explain the of Hamilton
the purpose and effect the amendment the city charter
be voted the election of November AS members of the
Charter Commission elected the people and charged with the
responsibility OF setting up new and more workable form of
interested only making the govern
ment useful to the public
The purpose of the proposed amendment very simple
based entirely the principle of Home Rule voted by the
people will merely transfer the authority decide how much
money the city have for operation from three officers elected
by the county the City Council elected by the city itself
Under the present system the finances of the City of Ham
on entirely at the of the County Budget Commission
which made up the Prosecuting Attorney the County
Treasurer and the County Auditor The law restricts the
levied for all purposes Is mills The only exceptions eves
for specific purposes actually voted by the people.
The monies which the Budget Commission apportons
divided four State Taxes b County
(c) School Taxes; (d) City Taxes.
The State Tax fixed by the State of Ohio and the Budget
Commission cannot alter reduce it.
The County Tax is naturally of primary interest a
mission composed entirely county officers and experience has
shown that the needs of the county generally better provided
for than those of the city.
The School Tax levied by Board Education Upto
levy Of Four and Eghye Hundredths Mills is mandatory
the Budget Commission Usually much larger levy ask
ed by the Board of Education and allowed by the Budget Com
mission,
The City Tax last and the plain truth is that the
city gets what left Of the Is Mills after the needs of State
County and Board of Education have been The city
qred by law all obligations for interest bonds
and for maturing bonds before any money for operat
ing expenses These obligations for bonds have years
the past absorbed practically the whole income of the city,
leaving nothing for the payment of such necessary
fire protection police and garbage removal Exactly this
don developed during the administration of Mayor Kelly when
the police and rmen had be paid through popular subscription
and the citizens paid the garbage from their pockets
The lives health and property of the citizens needessy
endangered.
The Home Rule Tax Amendment will prevent the
of such condition and make unnecessary
such unpopular expedients Occupaona Tax 1t will give
City Council the right levy such required for the
operation the city, except that such exceed the
of Five and One-haf Mills 1t will give the City Council the
right levy exceed One Mill for the payment of the
c portion of street and improvements At present this
money being borrowed and this is of the of the
heavy sinking fund requirements 1t will the Council the
right levy sufficient the interest and principal
bonds maturing Thus the sinking fund will be cared for each
year without deprvng the city of its operating income The
only other the Council levy for the payment of the
city's share of the Conservancy assessments.
The chief effects of the Home Rule Tax Amendment will
be to allow the city provide sufficient for its daily
aons The citizens properly protection and service and
should be allowed through their elective officers provide
them 1t not fair wise to leave the citizens of Hamilton
the mercy Of Commission of County officials just
that the city forced what left after other
political units provided for.
The policy of paying the citys portion go will in
the great saving of interest easy bonds
the financial troubles of the City of Hamilton the direct
result of bonds issued years ago.
"Pay you GO will in the end prove the best policy
and judgment the voting of the Home Rule Tax Amend
ment will save money to the taxpayers of Hamilton.
We intend to vote Eyes" on this amendment
THE HAMILTON CHARTER COMMISSION
FIX VAUGHN c. E. WOOIFORD
MORRIS G. TAYLOR H. H. HAINES
ELLA MAE COPE. M CROCKER.
ELEANORE W. FRECHTLING E. R. HALL
AISTON LOUIS NAU
W. R. SNEED RAYMOND H BURKE.
B. w. RAMSEY. DR. MARK MIILIKIN.
REESE PIPHER