The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1946-04-26
Vote For Home
Rule Amendment

The Home Rule Amendment, the
measure proposed to provide adequate
finances for efficient municipal oper-
ations, has received the unanimous en-
dorsement of the Board of Directors
of The Hamilton Chamber of Com
merce, it was announced Tuesday.
j. B. Conroy, president of the Ham
ilton Chamber, said the Boards stamp
of approval was put on the proposed
charter amendment "after studies in
dicated it to be the fairest, most con-
tinuing and most adequate means of
providing sufficient funds for opera
tions and services of the city gov
ernment.'
''The proposed measure, to be sub
primary election would give city coun-
Gil power to levy taxes, up to maxi
mum of six mills, to meet current
operating expenses of the city. In
the form of an amendment to the city
carter, it would remove the need for
the present utility commodity tax of
eight per cent and would be a per-
manent source of funds for city operat-
ing expenses"
"No one, including the members of
council, likes to pay eight per cent
tax on his utilities, for home, store and
plant alike. This tax, now being col
lected and only in effect for the rest
of 1916, is an emergency, make-shift
arrangement, to furnish revenue for
| the city's operations for the rest of
this year. Next year, if Home Rule
passes, this tax can be dropped and
our utility bills can once again as
sumo their normal, low levels"
"On the other hand, every resident
| wants the city to continue it's collec-
tion of garbage, wants police and fire
protection to be maintained at high
| level, wants the heauth, medical and
| welfare programs continued After
the utility tax is dropped, unless Home
Rule is adopted, all of these services
will have to be curtailed."
"Hamilton's police force, already
one-t third the size needed, would be
further reduced-a direct invitation
to lawlessness. A similar reduction
would be necessary in the fire depart
ment, increasing the possibilities of
| greater fire losses and higher insur-
ance rates to property owners. And, if
the residents have to arrange and pay
for garbage collection themselves, they
will probably have to pay about two
dollars a month or twenty-four dol
lars year per Individual for such
service. That would be a lot of money
out of Hamilton pockets. Home Rule
can prevent this extra expense"
The Chambers Municipal Finance
Committee, Robert K. Stevenson.
chairman, recently studied the city's
financial situation, Mr.. Conroy said
This study revealed that, out of the
total tax rate of $4,000, only $2.51 is
available for city operating expenses.
This results from a state law, COM
monty referred to as the "ten mill linn
itation", under which city's share
Of property taxes is fixed portion
of levy not to exceed $40 per 81, 1,0OC
valuation of property on the tax dupli-
cate Under this law, the city's share
of this $40 is 1881, the county's is
$1.92 and the school district is given
/ $4.27. Out of the city's share of 1881
must first come SOTO for bond re
tirement and 5000 for police and fire
pensions, leaving only $2.51 for thu
city to operate on, pay salaries, buy
equipment, collect garbage and per
form the many other municipal ser
i, vices necessary to the welfare of its
; citizens.
]. "As a result of this situation, the