Issuu

February 17, 2011

Council sees tax hike as inevitable By JEFF DONAHUE ThisWeek Community Newspapers It isn’t a matter of if or when Bexley voters will see a tax increase on the ballot, but how much. Facing the potential loss of estate tax and local government fund revenues on top of an anticipated $1.2-million budget deficit, Bexley City Council members agree that they have no choice but to seek a tax increase in November. The only issue remaining to be resolved is how much additional funding they will ask voters to approve. Finance and judiciary committee chairman Ben Kessler told city council Feb. 8 that the pending state budget crisis will likely take its toll on municipalities across

A closer look Over the past 10 years, estate tax revenues have accounted for approximately 17 percent of Bexley’s annual operating revenues. That number has varied from a high of $4.3-million (33.6 percent of operating revenues) in 2009 to a low of $482,046 (5.4 percent) in 2007.

Ohio. With Gov. John Kasich’s biennial budget yet to be released, widespread cuts are anticipated in an effort to deal with a projected $8-billion budget deficit. Assistant House majority whip Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City) and state Rep.

Jay Hottinger (R-Newark) jointly introduced legislation Jan. 12 to eliminate the Ohio estate tax, also known as the “death tax.” House Bill 3 would allow small business owners, farmers and homeowners to pass on their assets to their heirs without being taxed twice on their life’s savings. Ohio currently has the lowest estate tax exemption in the U.S. Just $338,333 of a taxable estate is exempt from the estate tax, compared to an average exemption amount of approximately $1.7million for other states with an estate tax. Over the past 10 years, estate tax revenues have accounted for approximately 17 percent of Bexley’s annual operating revenues. That number has varied

from a high of $4.3-million (33.6 percent of operating revenues) in 2009 to a low of $482,046 (5.4 percent) in 2007. According to statistics provided by finance director Beecher Hale, local government funds from the state have accounted for an average of nearly $1-million per year (or 9 percent of operating revenues) over the past 10 years. “This is a particularly challenging time,” Kessler told his fellow council members. “The hope is that, at the very least, we know where we stand by July 1. We’re going to continue to advocate in the financial interest of the city but we’re not going to have any pat answers in the next couple of months. We’re not going to know where any of this really lies until July 1.”

Tim Madison announces run for Bexley City Council By JEFF DONAHUE ThisWeek Community Newspapers

By Tim Norman/ThisWeek

After being crowned Winter Homecoming King, Bexley High School senior Spencer Stanley gets a hug from senior Kendra Wilson after she crowned him during halftime of the girls basketball game against Columbus Academy at Bexley High School on Feb. 11. Wilson is captain of the girls soccer team and it is tradition for the girls soccer team captain to crown the Winter Homecoming King.

Education Foundation’s Bravo! event set for Feb. 27 gan for the whole entire Bexley Education Foundation,” said event chairwoman Lynnette Evans. “We wanted The Bexley Education Foundation’s to promote that this year.” Bravo! fundraiser will feature a silent One of the highlights of this year’s auction and food from event is the silent 20 area restaurants. auction, Evans said. Proceeds from the The auction incommunity party supcludes trips to North port efforts of the eduCarolina, Ohio cation foundation. The State University annual fundraising event football game tickwill be held Feb. 27 ets, Disney parkfrom 7 to 11 p.m. at the hopper passes and DSW home office, 810 a Gatlinburg, Tenn., DSW Drive. travel package with The theme for this tickets to Dollyyear’s event is “What’s wood. Possible.” “We had a lot of moms go into busi“’What’s Possible’ is their new slo- ness making purses, jewelry, hats,”

See TAX, page A2

A family tradition

CROWNING MOMENT

By TARA STUBBS-FIGURSKI ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Kessler said regardless of how the state budget crisis is resolved, the city has issues of its own that must be addressed. “Even before House Bill 3 hit, in context of our 2011 budget discussion, we were all sitting here looking at trending and looking at forecasts and saying something has to give here,” he said. “We’re going to have to make some substantial cuts or we are going to have to look at some new revenue options.” Kessler said his original plan was to spend the first quarter to six months of 2011 reviewing the city’s options. “That was back when we had a somewhat more static image of what our budg-

A familiar name in Bexley political circles is back in the news. The name is Madison, and no, it isn’t longtime Bexley Mayor David Madison. Timothy G. Madison, a 46-year-old attorney and son of the former Bexley mayor, has announced he will seek a seat on Bexley City Council in November. Four of the seven seats on Bexley City Council are up for election in November. Incumbents Ben Kessler, Mark Masser, Jeff McClelland and Jed Morison are yet to announce if they intend to seek re-election. “My desire to run for Bexley City Council is born from my passion for the city,” Madison told ThisWeek Bexley. “Bexley is my home. I believe in the city of Bexley. I have deep roots here, was raised here, and my wife and I are raising our five kids here.” Madison describes himself as an independent and said he has spent 34 years of his life in the Bexley community. He and his wife of 17 years, Jenny, a nurse at Mt. Carmel Hospital, have five children, Jonah (11), Grace (9), Canaan (9), Natalie (9), and Tess (6). All are students at Cassingham El-

ementary School. “Bexley is facing some extremely difficult financial challenges and I am committed to researching and exploring all options in order to reach a balanced budget and serve in the best interest of all Bexley citizens,” Madison said. “My recent involvement with the 4th of July event and the Bike Helmet Law has only strengthened my belief in Bexley and has convinced me to further my involvement in public service. It would be an honor to represent the caring and involved citizens of our community who make our city thrive in order to create an equally thriving future.” Madison has practiced as a real estate/business attorney since 1994. He is a founding partner of Madison & Rosan, LLP, a real estate, business, and commercial litigation law firm. After graduating from Bexley High School in 1982, Madison earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1987. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the Capital University Law School in 1994. Madison said he doesn’t think an income tax increase is the answer to the city’s fiSee MADISON, page A2

Evans said. “A lot of those local people are supporting (Bravo!) this year by getting items on the floor.” The silent auction also features student-created artwork from all three elementary schools, Bexley Middle School and Bexley High School. This year’s vendors include The Top, Cherbourg Bakery, Raising Cane’s and The Old 40 Tavern. “We try to stick with Bexley restaurants … ones that people go to or have Bexley business people involved with them,” Evans said. “We do have Katzinger’s Deli and Raising Cane’s. We really do try to support the community.” Proceeds from the event are used to See BRAVO!, page A2

Diane Peterson resigns from Bexley school board By JEFF DONAHUE ThisWeek Community Newspapers Diane Peterson, a member of the Bexley City Schools Board of Education since 2002, is resigning, effective Feb. 28. School board president Joan Fishel announced Peterson’s resignation for “personal reasons” during the board’s Feb. 14 meeting.

A Bexley High School graduate who returned in 1998 to live in the community, Peterson was first elected to the board in 2001. Her tenure began as current Superintendent Mike Johnson started his job in Bexley. She was instrumental in fosterDiane Peterson ing initiatives such as the im-

plementation of educational best practices. Peterson served as board president from 2007-08 and was elected to a third term in 2009. According to state law, the board must appoint a replacement for Peterson within 30 days of the effective date of her resignation. State law also dictates that, because more than half of Peterson’s term remains, the person appointed by the board can only serve through De-