By passing issue five this week, Toledo taxpayers guaranteed the trash fee will be reduced.

But there are two plans on the table. The mayor isn’t really fond of a plan coming out of council. City councilman Mike Collins is proposing a plan he says will pay off the city’s bond debt early, save millions of dollars and keep the trash fee low. For a senior citizen like Robert Williams, who feels his fixed income check is under assault, a tax cut sounds good. The trash tax is about to go down from the current $15 to $8.50. That $8.50 would go to the general fund for help pay to operate city government.

Click the Title above to read the full article and see the video.

Toledo voters Tuesday granted the city greater leeway to use money from its 0.75 percent temporary income tax for operating expenditures rather than capital improvements.A referendum to change allocation of the tax, which is a part of the city’s entire 2.25 percent income tax, was approved by voters with 70 percent of the vote counted.

Toledo Mayor Mike Bell threw his support behind Issue 5 yesterday, urging voters to back a measure he said could lower their $15 monthly trash fee and re-establish the tax credit for Toledoans who work outside the city.

The city of Toledo will begin a two-month targeted enforcement of red-light camera fines May 1 to try to collect outstanding citations, the Bell administration announced Thursday.

Mayor Mike Bell proposed, and Toledo City Council enacted, legislation allowing police to immobilize or tow vehicles that have two or more unpaid red-light camera citations.

Read full article by clicking the title above.

oledo Mayor Mike Bell and leaders of the largest municipal union hammered out a tentative agreement Friday that gives the city the savings it needs and allows the union to shed forced concessions ordered by the administration and approved by City Council.

This news article is a good summary of what the first 100 days in office have been like for Mayor Bell.  It also provides an summary of promises and if they have been accomplished, in progress, or not accomplished.  

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With your help and hard work we have made it through one of the hardest challenges our city has had to face with the $40+ million dollar deficit. We would like to thank everyone who joined us at one of the many meetings we have held, contributed to ideas, helped at events, and those who spread the word to their co-workers, friends, and family.  We have accomplished a many things and still have much to do.  Below is what we have accomplished and what is to come.

Tasks We Have Accomplished

• We have conducted a Self Assessment of Toledo
• Updated Toledo’s Strategic Plan from version 1.0 to version 2.0
• We have completed the transition process and team reports
• Successfully engaged the city in the Budget Crisis Working Meetings, all of which included City Leadership, Districts, CSI, & Council
• Balanced the Budget!

Looking Ahead at Our Next Steps

• Form the Future of Toledo Team from Transition Team
• Integrate Transition Team Reports into Future of Toledo Strategic Plan version 3.0
• Work with the Future of Toledo Leadership Team to Develop Next Steps for Engaging Toledo & Region in the Strategic Plan & Priorities

See the Latest in the News below and be sure to check out www.thefutureoftoledo.org

Toledo council passes 2010 budget - Fox Toledo

Toledo’s Fiscal Reckoning - Wall Street Journal 

City of Toledo, union talk, seek way around unilateral cuts - Toledo Blade

Union talks ‘positive, ongoing’ - Fox Toledo

Toledo City Council vote is sought on utility-bill collection - Toledo Blade

Be sure to continue to tell your co-workers, friends, and family about The Future of Toledo.  Also if you are not already a fan of ours on Facebook go do it now at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/Future-of-Toledo/

Engage with other citizens of Toledo in conversation, see what events are coming up, see photos from past events, and voice your thoughts on The Future of Toledo.

Also follow us on Twitter to get daily what is hot in the news and other important updates.  To follow us visit: http://twitter.com/futureoftoledo

This past Wednesday, the leadership team discussed and determined options & consequences for cutting cost, making concessions, and revenue generating.  This was the last meeting for the team before the deadline to submit a balanced budget proposal to city council by March 1.

City leaders looked at and prioritized ideas that will have an impact on the budget this fiscal year.  After looking at these ideas they then grouped them into three areas, A, B, and C.  A were for ideas that would be the ideal plan for the budget. B were for ideas that were more of a feasible plan to happen. C were for ideas that were  an alternative if if A and B could not be achieved.  After discussing which ideas should be in A, B, and C they then took it a step future and identified consequences if they could not be achieved.

Some of the options mentioned and discussed at the various tables are as follows:

• Receivership
• Healthcare
• Unions
• Tax credit
• Event tax
• Refuse fee
• Red light Camera fees
• layoffs (as a last resort)
• CIP (Capital Improvement Fund)
• Pension pickup

Below is a conversation that took place about the tax credit issue.

Some city leaders are concerned with the tax credit and what effect it will have on the city’s population. To learn more please watch the video below.

To wrap up the meeting Mayor Mike Bell gave closing remarks to the leadership team and thanked everyone for their hard work and time they committed.

Next steps are to present a balanced budget proposal to city council by March 1.  Also the leadership team will still meet if any other pressing issues arise or if the proposed budgeted submitted to city council is not approved.  Also all citizens are urged to attend one of many district meetings.  The first district meeting is district 3, on Wednesday, March 3rd at 4:30pm at Waite High School.

Citizens of Toledo can voice their opinion on the ideas being looked at and contribute ideas by going to www.thefutureoftoledo.org

In the News This Past Week.

Below are various news updates related to the Future of Toledo and the budget crisis.

Bell Delivers State of The City Address - The Independent Collegian (Article)

Mayor Mike Bell’s State of the City Address - 13 ABC (Video)

State of the City Address Video: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Mayor vows budget fix next month on ‘Deadline Now’ - Toledo Blade (Article)

4 Toledo unions reject concessions - Fox Toledo (Article/Video)

This past week the leadership team evaluated over 120 ideas for cutting cost, making concessions, and revenue generating.  These ideas came from multiple CSI meetings and the leadership of Toledo.

The meeting entailed the city’s leadership prioritizing 120+ budget fixing ideas In relation to three areas. These three areas were budget content (Directly impacting the budget now), process (How to collaborate), and parking lot for the future (long term ideas).

At this meeting The Future of Toledo website was officially launched, to connect in all citizens of Toledo and the region to contribute their own ideas, learn more about the budget process, read Mayor Bell’s letter, and invite others to join.

Citizens of Toledo can voice their opinion on the ideas being looked at and contribute ideas by going to www.thefutureoftoledo.org

Also see below a video from Louis Escobar, Former President of City Council.

View Video Here

Below are the latest press releases related to the budget.

Bell pulls proposed income tax increase - Fox Toledo (Video)

Bell’s budget gives, takes - Toledo Blade (Article)

Mayor’s office uses new website to seek citizens’ ideas - WTOL (Article/Video)

Mayor Bell presents plan for fixing Toledo budget without tax hike - Toledo Blade (Article)

Toledo Budget Proposal - 13 ABC (Article/Video)

This past week has been a busy week for the Bell Administration, Citizen Special Investigation task force (CSI), and city leaders.  The CSI task force has held multiple meetings to discuss the budget deficit and plan.  The will continue to meet until a balanced budget proposal is completed and presented.

CSI met this past Thursday with city leadership for the first in a series of Budget Working Meetings.  These meetings include business leaders, union leaders, government Directors, and City Council members to discuss Toledo’s multi-million dollar deficit.  The meeting included a budget panel that consisted of Deputy Mayor, Steve Herwat, Finance Director, Patrick McLean, and Clarence Coleman, Commissioner – Taxation/Treasury.  The leadership then asked questions and gave feedback on what they heard.

The next steps include weekly Budget Working Meetings with city leadership, along with District Budget Meeting to be held in the communities.  The goal of the meetings is to develop a common understanding of the current financial situation along with potential scenarios and options for addressing the deficit.  City Council desires to collect citizen input regarding priority services and other budget related issues.

To read what the Bell administration is asking of departments please read the following article.

Reminder upcoming meetings:

Wednesday, Feb. 10 9:30am-11:30am Budget Working Meeting Navy Bistro @ The Docks

Thursday, Feb. 11 District Working Meeting Navy Bistro @ The Docks

To catch up and learn more please visit the follow links below to this past weeks new article and videos relating to the budget crisis.

Time for budget action – Toledo Blade

Clock is ticking to balance Toledo’s budget - 13 ABC

City of Toledo holding meetings, hoping to get budget into focus - WTOL

(Note video included, located in the top right of the page.)

Toledo 2010 budget deficit now $ 38M - Fox Toledo

Mayors talk about budget woes - Toledo Blade

Toledo’s budget battle wages on - NBC 24

Bell seeks 0.25% tax hike, leeway for allocating funds - Toledo Blade