Chris Monzel has served on this body for the past nine of the last ten years. He was recently successful in his run for a seat on the Hamilton County Commissioners. "He has been a quiet leader and a consistent voice for conservative policies," Winburn says.
Chris Monzel has served on this body for the past nine of the last ten years. He was recently successful in his run for a seat on the Hamilton County Commissioners. "He has been a quiet leader and a consistent voice for conservative policies," Winburn says.
Chris Monzel has served on this body for the past nine of the last ten years. He was recently successful in his run for a seat on the Hamilton County Commissioners. "He has been a quiet leader and a consistent voice for conservative policies," Winburn says.
C i t y o f C i nci nna t i – T he O ffi c e o f C o u nci l ma n C h a rl i e Wi nb u rn
Charlie Winburn and January, 2011
Happy Staff Wish You and Your
Volume 2, Issue 1
New Family a Happy and
Year! Prosperous 2011 Cincinnati City Council bids farewell to Chris Monzel Inside this issue: Winburn says conservative colleague will be missed Council bids fare- 1 well to Monzel As 2010 comes to a close friend, confidant, and trusted Public Safety and 1 at Cincinnati City Hall, City ally on many issues that have Security Protected Council bids farewell to our come before Council since colleague Chris Monzel. Winburn’s return a year ago. More Trolley Folly: 2 Mr. Monzel has served on “He has been a quiet Budgets Way Off this body for the past nine of leader and a consistent voice City to Offer Tax 2 the last ten years and was re- for conservative policies,” take his new office at the be- Amnesty Program cently successful in his run for Winburn said. “We often ginning of 2011, while a a seat on the Hamilton compared notes and votes on Council replacement will fol- Job Creation semi- 2 County Commissioners. specific issues and I will miss low immediately. Winburn nars continue Charlie Winburn de- him.” expects to work just as closely scribes Chris as a very close Monzel is scheduled to with Monzel’s successor. Trolley Folly Public safety and security remain high priority Streetcar utility estimate already Budget debate over layoffs of police and fire ends with Winburn’s deciding vote “way off mark” to save jobs and start the new year with discussions on government reforms “Relocating utilities to This year’s budget deci- city bureaucracy, reform it, We must redesign, re- make way for Cincin- sions turned out to be as diffi- and right-size it based on the form and right-size our nati’s proposed streetcar cult as any in recent years. A amount of resources currently city programs and services could cost four times as looming $60 million deficit available. through the establish- much as the city has had to be filled with a combi- The City Manager has ment of a Blue Ribbon budgeted…[T]he city has nation of fewer expenses, stated that we are in a struggle Committee which will estimated it will cost $5 more revenue, or a combina- for sustainability. He’s right. review our entire govern- million to move utilities tion of the two, all the while The reality is we cannot con- ment from top to bottom for the project. But new attempting to keep the citi- tinue down the same path of and make recommenda- estimates from Duke zens’ priorities at the fore- big government, higher taxes, tions towards efficiency Energy Corp. show the front. trash fees, wasteful govern- and effectiveness. cost of moving electric From the beginning, ment spending and no fiscal We must revitalize the and gas lines alone could Winburn’s first priority was to accountability at City Hall. Cincinnati economy by be more than $20 mil- maintain the highest levels of Winburn introduced making it easier to do lion. And that estimate safety and security for all citi- numerous long-term perma- business in Cincinnati. does not include the cost zens. Without public safety nent budget reductions—some We must restore faith in of relocating water, sewer, and public services, much else which were accepted and oth- the values and principles telephone, cable or fiber Council desired to do would ers not—in light of the follow- of fiscal accountability, optic lines along the path quickly be devalued. ing principles, with view to- responsibility, efficiency of the streetcar.” Next, the message to the ward safeguarding core city and common sense at BUSINESS COURIER City Manager was to cut the services on a permanent basis: Cincinnati City Hall. NOVEMBER 17, 2010 City to Offer Second Chance Tax “I’m Charlie Amnesty Program in 2011 Winburn and I work Incentive for citizens to pay delinquent balances has for you. generated significant funds for other cities across the country Please feel free to con- City Council passed a Second Chance Tax Amnesty Program that will provide tact me at my a WIN-WIN for the city and many of its citizens, particularly during the current office any- economic crisis that has affected government and personal incomes alike. Once time. It is an honor to be your City the details are in place, the program is expected to significantly enhance the Councilman and I look forward to city’s revenue stream, even if it collects only a portion of what is owed. serving you for the next two years.” The proposal was offered by Charlie Winburn after reading about success- ful programs other cities across the country have utilized in recent years. Once Council Office Contact Info the City Manager completes the details on the program, citizens with delin- Cincinnati City Hall quent balances for earnings and corporate income tax, property tax, code and 801 Plum Street, Suite 351 traffic fines, water and sewer bills, along with a number of other special fees and assessments, will have the opportunity to receive a one-time waiver of some pen- Cincinnati, OH 45202 alties and interest if full payment on balances is made to the city by a specific Phone: 513-352-5354 deadline. Fax: 513-352-5367 The national financial crisis has obviously been significantly felt in Cincin- Charlie.Winburn@cincinnati-oh.gov nati by the drop in revenue collections from all sources. “This is a great oppor- tunity to give citizens a second chance in providing relief for taxpayers amidst our local economic downturn,” Winburn said. “I believe that allowing citizens to pay their debts to the city and move on can help encourage small businesses SBE Construction to create jobs; it can sustain home ownership and hopefully prevent more fore- closures; and it may prevent some personal and business bankruptcies.” Training Winburn cited examples from cities such as Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Newark, ACI Program Builds Capacity NJ, and Birmingham, AL including, (1) In 2004, the City of Fort Lauderdale, of Small Companies; FL raised $1.3 million through their Code Fine Amnesty Program. The monies Next FREE Class Begins were used to prevent layoffs of 30 public safety aides in their police department. (2) In 2009, the City of Newark, NJ generated approximately $4 million, with January 2011 70% of the total amount owed to the city being paid by delinquent taxpayers. CONTACT (3) In the short time since October 1, 2010, the City of Birmingham, AL has Pat Popp at ACI recovered approximately $1 million through their amnesty program. Cincinnati (513) 221-8020 expects to have similar results.
Job Creation Committee Hosts HUGE Briefing
Over 500 Learn About Upcoming Opportunities in Cincinnati MSD Takes Briefing to Next Level for 300 at Follow Up Seminar A record crowd of over Community Develop- “I was very, very pleased nars on December 14 to 500 recently packed City ment Department with both events, particu- take attendees deeper into Hall seeking to learn how to Economic Develop- larly the help from our great the contracting opportuni- create jobs and grow their ment Department volunteers and our excellent ties available with, through businesses through city re- Cincinnati Parks presenters,” Winburn said. and in the City of Cincin- sources and contracting Metropolitan Sewer “We did this for the people nati specifically with MSD. opportunities. District of Cincinnati and hope that MSD Director Tony Chaired by Charlie Cincinnati Streetcar it was helpful.” Parrot explained how he is Winburn, the Job Creation Cincinnati Casino As promised, Winburn planning to spend nearly Committee sponsored the Major development followed through with plans $450 million over the next Briefing as a first step in pro- projects by 3CDC to take the Briefing to the year and $3.2 billion over viding an overview of the Cooney Faulkner & next level with in-depth the next 15-20 years on vari- major opportunities that are Stevens CPAs re: Small seminars by city depart- ous infrastructure projects available through and in Business Jobs Act of ments and special projects related to water and sewer. Cincinnati to expand their 2010 underway in Cincinnati. Winburn’s will lead businesses. UC’s Entrepreneurship Metropolitan Sewer efforts in 2011 to schedule Presenters and topics & Community Devel- District co-sponsored the four similar seminars with covered at the Briefing in- opment Clinic next and first of five semi- other city departments. cluded: