Dear Circleville Voters,
As election day approaches, we should all be mindful of the hateful culture in which we live and the extent to which those opposed to self-rule have sought to misinform us as a means of securing our vote against the charter.
Regardless of what you have heard or read to the contrary, the following are facts surrounding the Home Rule Charter document which was legally presented to, and approved for the ballot, by City Council.1.) The charter does not raise property taxes. I will say that again, THE CHARTER DOES NOT RAISE TAXES! Section 9.03 simply provides the city with the capacity (collateral) to sell bonds to pay for capital improvement and infrastructure projects using existing revenues. When you see the word, “levy” it is not a reference to new taxes. The reference speaks of monies that have already been levied.
2.) A city manager and finance director will provide professional stewardship of our tax dollars, with greater ability to streamline operations to lower costs and attract non-tax revenue and investments. It is true, Pickaway County has one of the highest tax rates in the country. Please be aware that this is a function of the form of government we have now not the form of government proposed in the charter. If you have a problem with this, YOU SHOULD VOTE YES FOR THE CHARTER.
3.) Staggered terms for Council Representatives is a good thing. We should want to vote for people who know what they’re doing. Why would we want to eliminate the entire council all at once? Who will replace them? As it is, we’ve had the experience where almost the entire council is newly elected. How could this possibly serve the people? We cannot elect seven new representatives and expect progress. The same could be said of the length of the term. The charter commissioners interviewed council representatives and learned that a 2 year term is not long enough at the local level. People need time to learn the job they’ve been elected to do. And the voters should be weary of the prospect of cutting off our nose in spite of our face.
4.) It was not the Charter Commissioners job to work out the budget in the charter. The budget under the charter, should it pass, will be apportioned in the proper time and place, after the election. It makes no sense to expect that council would do this beforehand.
5.) The city is under a state mandate to balance the budget. Cities are audited every year. It would not have been appropriate to have put any budget requirements in the charter.
6.) A Charter is a constitution for a local municipality and defines the form of government. The vast majority of cities all across the country have adopted a charter with the intent to change their form of government to Council/Manager. Research in C-ville showed the voters want to elect their mayor, even a ceremonial mayor. Under the charter, professional management will be brought in to run the city on a daily basis and our elected mayor will see to everything else the mayor does. Again, salaries will be timely apportioned appropriately.
7.) The fact that nepotism exists in a small town is no reason to dismiss the charter which has been legally written and proposed to the voters. Anyone who has a problem with friends and neighbors doing a job they are not willing to do themselves, ought to keep their complaints private.
8.) The money spent to put this issue on the ballot was spent by residents, not the council. Citizens have rights.
9.) Again, stop listening to naysayers and those against Circleville….THE CHARTER CONTAINS NO NEW TAXES! NO NEW TAXES! NO NEW TAXES! NO NEW TAXES!!!!!!
Yours very sincerely,
A 2021/2022 Charter Commissioner
VOTE YES FOR SELF GOVERNANCE.
VOTE YES FOR THE CIRCLEVILLE CHARTER.
VOTE YES FOR A BETTER CITY.
Find us on Facebook: CITIZENS FOR CIRCLEVILLE, OHIO CHARTER
PAID FOR BY THE YES CIRCLEVILLE CHARTER HELEN MADDOX
