The Observation Deck

This was up on the lakewood facebook page. I've not much experience looking at city budgets, but I think page 15 suggests that they plan for an increase in municipal income tax this year. Can anyone help me understand why that would be? I would think that all those hospital jobs would put a dent in the total and cause a loss rather than a gain. If their projections math is correct, then it makes sense why they think Lakewood can absorb the loss of those hospital jobs since the total municipal tax revenue would still be expected to grow.

http://www.onelakewood.com/wp-content/u ... Budget.pdf

I looked back at old budgets, and starting in 2010 the revenue generated by income tax increased annually an average of 4.68% so the budgeted increases in the past seem to be very conservative.

The 2016 budget had $22,144,913 budgeted for income tax revenue, with the projected amount for 2016 in this budget at $23,101,477. Wouldn't the gap between the budgeted and projected be due to the accelerated income tax payment schedule mandated by the state, which requires income tax estimates to be made by December 31, rather than January 31 as in prior years? Does it make sense to budget next year’s income tax revenue based on this inflated projected figure which I would guess would include this extra payment?

It will be interesting to see how this unfolds going forward. There have been many statements made by public officials pointing out that Lakewood’s income tax rate is low compared to other communities so I expect that we will all be making up the inevitable loss of income tax revenue due to closing the hospital.

This is a treasure trove of information and insight into future planning. As a former resident of Woodward I found this interesting in the 2017 capital budget:

Woodward Biocells | Sewer & Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements WWC Fund | $ 40,000 | Change traffic calming islands into bio retention cells

Sounds fascinating. I assume this is more exploratory, trying to figure out ways to reduce rainwater runoff in sewer systems. Not sure I would want this on my street, but...

Paul Schrimpf wrote:This is a treasure trove of information and insight into future planning. As a former resident of Woodward I found this interesting in the 2017 capital budget:

Woodward Biocells | Sewer & Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements WWC Fund | $ 40,000 | Change traffic calming islands into bio retention cells

Sounds fascinating. I assume this is more exploratory, trying to figure out ways to reduce rainwater runoff in sewer systems. Not sure I would want this on my street, but...

Paul

It was my understanding this was always part of the Woodward Project. Plastic to see how and if it worked, then biocells/gardens after that.

To my knowledge which is limited, there is not thought of raising taxes in 2017. Not because they don't need to, but it would make them look foolish.

However they will be looking at if they need to gets some bonds for the pools, which is, active living the city neglected and allowed to fall apart.
They care about health and wellness?

FWIW

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Interesting. I assume that's money specifically earmarked for waste water alternatives. Glad it's not on my street.

There's no, no chance of me voting yes on a levy anytime soon. If that's true about the pool it's a shame. Should have been better planning.

Paul

Paul Schrimpf wrote:Interesting. I assume that's money specifically earmarked for waste water alternatives. Glad it's not on my street.

There's no, no chance of me voting yes on a levy anytime soon. If that's true about the pool it's a shame. Should have been better planning.

Paul

Paul

No Levy, Bonds, which could fall into a nightmare zone if you are following other threads.

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..."traffic calming islands"??? (there are those words again "traffic calming")

Is that what those hideous things are called on Woodward? Too bad for the people that live on that street, as they would be affected the most.

So..., traffic calming is anything that impedes traffic flow, right? Since when is that a goal? I thought the goal was to try and keep people moving.

cameron karslake wrote:..."traffic calming islands"??? (there are those words again "traffic calming")

Is that what those hideous things are called on Woodward? Too bad for the people that live on that street, as they would be affected the most.

So..., traffic calming is anything that impedes traffic flow, right? Since when is that a goal? I thought the goal was to try and keep people moving.

Cameron

What you need to realize is there is a multi-billion dollar business, world wide keeping CDCs in business. If you think you are seeing copy cat work, DUH!

A billion dollar industry in bum proof benches. These are designed to make parks look inviting, but not for more than a couple minutes.

"Traffic Calming" in use for ever in Europe and the UK, but back in vogue in CDC world. When I was a kid we just let cars park on both sides of the street.

The battle cry is, "We must attract artists, so that we can attract coffee shops, so we can attract cool people, and then cool businesses would follow, and then hotels!"

Do a search for CDC, Community Development Corporation, and what is available to them to push on their members, and the cities.

It matters not what a city needs when the CDC arrives, it is what they can drive down the residents throats.

Normally siding with business, as businesses contribute more than residents. So they do what the business want, screw the residents.

Shoot me.

Paul Schrimpf wrote:This is a treasure trove of information and insight into future planning. As a former resident of Woodward I found this interesting in the 2017 capital budget:

Woodward Biocells | Sewer & Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements WWC Fund | $ 40,000 | Change traffic calming islands into bio retention cells

Sounds fascinating. I assume this is more exploratory, trying to figure out ways to reduce rainwater runoff in sewer systems. Not sure I would want this on my street, but...

Marcy Kaptur at our block party several years ago asked if we as a community were exploring ways to reduce run-off in something similar. She is very concerned about run-off given her real constituency is the Toledo area which has had so many issues with not having drinking water due to algae blooms. I would love to see anything done to protect our Great Lake and am curious as to what this would entail.

And I wouldn't mind it on our street to slow cars and trucks down.

IMO, the only time that traffic calming device works is when two cars are coming at each other. Then one goes extra fast and one slows down. Doesn't really seem like the right result.