The proposed trail would begin and end with the Little Miami Scenic Trail, at the Newtown Road Bridge and at the Beechmont Levee Bridge, creating a loop approximately 11 miles long.

If council approves the extension, the trail would utilize the area of the old CG&E right-of-way, which runs from the intersection of Murray and Settle roads on the west of the village to Wooster Pike south of the high school on the eastern side of the village.

OKI would help pay for part of the extension; the village would be responsible for approximately 30 to 40 per cent of the cost. Costs for similar bike trail projects have been approximately $500,000, which would make the village’s cost in the area of $150,000 to $200,000.

The village’s planning and zoning committee has said it would like to work with OKI to establish a bike trail system, since it would provide a wonderful addition for villagers and visitors, but they feel the trail – as proposed – would be a detriment to existing green spaces. Also, the committee does not feel the village should be as financially responsible as the present proposal indicates.

Future discussion on the subject is schedule.

Lawnscapers ordinance passed
Council accepted Lawnscapers bid of $127,970 to mow and trim selected village properties; the bid was deemed the lowest and best bid. Lawnscapers is under contract for 2006 and 2007.

The ordinance was declared an emergency (a term used when an issue in need to bypass the typical three readings council employs) because the contract is to be effective in time for the first mowing.

Fast alert, quick action
Council was curious to learn how the village police department was able to quicky apprehend a burglar last month, preventing a situation that could have escalated. Chief Rick Hines said the answer was simple: a resident called the department to inform them of some suspicious activity that was being witnessed. Based on the phone call, the police were dispatched and, sure enough, the result was the thwarting of a burglary attempt. Hines said it was a veritable example of why neighborhood watch programs are so important.

Ballot issue slated for November
There is an issue that everyone in the village may want to vote on, whether they like to vote or not. The issue is call the Tax Expenditure and Limitation Ballot, or TEL. The purpose is to amend the state constitution that will limit the ability of the legislature to increase state spending.

The issue is complicated. The following information is taken from the Citizens of Tax Reform Web site http://www.repealthetax.com/

It is encouraged that residents research the information to get a better grasp of the issues.

From http://www.repealthetax.com/
Citizens for Tax Reform’s Tax Expenditure Limitation (TEL) Amendment limits state and local government annual spending growth to 3.5 per cent or the sum of the rate of inflation plus population growth. Any year-end unspent revenue over 10 per cent of the budget is to be refunded to taxpayers. Local governments receive a guaranteed five per cent of the previous fiscal year’s aggregate state expenditures, and unfunded mandates are forbidden. The Attorney General has approved petition language and circulation has begun. Citizens for Tax Reform will collect the necessary 322,899 signatures by the state mandated August 10 deadline to qualify for the November 8 ballot.

Q. Why does Ohio need a TEL?
A. Ohio state government spending is growing at an unsustainable rate, 71 per cent since 1994. This rate of spending growth drives jobs out of Ohio and saddles remaining taxpayers with unreasonably high burdens.

Q. How many other states have TELs?
A. Twenty-six states have either tax or spending limitations. New Jersey passed the first TEL in 1976, and Ronald Reagan helped promote Prop 13 in California in 1978.

Q. Colorado has a TEL and some say their state government has been hamstrung in their efforts to adjust to a changing economy. Won’t this cause the same problems for Ohio?
A. Colorado’s situation is different because their amendment requires approval of all tax increases (not spending increases) and was later amended to allow accelerated K-12 education spending. Ohio’s amendment only limits what is spent, not how it is raised, and contains a ‘poison pill’ that voids the spending limit if other amendments authorizing higher spending are passed.

Q. Why change the Constitution to do this?
A. Putting this in the Constitution puts an institutional wall in place against increased taxes and spending. John Hancock said, “Constitutions are not restrictions by government upon the people, constitutions are restrictions by the people upon the government.”

Q. What is notable in Citizens for Tax Reform’s latest petition language?
A.1) This petition language allows state spending to increase 3.5 per cent or the sum of the rate of inflation plus the increase in population, whichever is higher.
2) Local governments receive a guaranteed baseline spending level of five per cent of state revenues and state government is forbidden from placing duties on local government without providing the revenue to perform them (no unfunded mandates).
3) A simple legislative majority can authorize a statewide referendum on higher spending.

Q. If this TEL was in place two years ago, how would it have changed Ohio’s budget?
A. State spending went up 11 per cent in the FY04-05 budget. If the TEL was in place the most state spending could have increased was seven per cent - a savings of nearly $2 billion in general fund dollars alone.

Relevant Economic Facts:
- According to the Federal Reserve Bank, the U.S. inflation rate was 2.2 per cent in 2003 and 3.0 per cent in 2004.
- The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Ohio’s population grew:
22,536 to 11,410,396 by July 1, 2002 from 11,387,860 on July 1, 2001 = .20 per cent
27,284 to 11,437,680 by July 1, 2003 for an increase of .24 per cent
21,331 to 11,459,011 by July 1, 2004 for an increase of .19 per cent

Upcoming info
There was a presentation from ICRC exectutive director Pat Stern to inform council of some possible changes from a state and national level that could have a serious impact on the future of ICRC and its coverage of local events. The Mariemontbuzz.com is presently researching more thoroughly the possible changes and will post an update quicklky.