By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz’s proposed 2021 operating and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budgets are expected to be referred to committee at Toledo City Council’s regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 1. Ordinance 470-20 estimates operating expenditures of $283,118,577 which is $14.2 million higher than the amended 2020 budget that included adjustments in response to COVID-19. It is balanced using a transfer of $11 million from the CIP fund and almost $23 million from general fund reserves. Income tax revenue is expected to generate $178.4 million, which is $7.7 million higher than the amended 2020 budget, but still lower than estimates prior to COVID. Separately, $17 million in new revenue for roads is expected from the additional 0.25 percent income tax approved this year. Ordinance 471-20 includes CIP expenditures of $18.7 million for residential roads and $20.3 million for other capital projects in 2021. Hearings on both the operating and CIP budgets, which can be view here, are scheduled for December 7 at noon, December 14 at 5:00 p.m., and December 16 at 5:00 p.m. The proposal sets January 19, 2021 as the target date for passage of the budgets, while the statutory deadline for passage is March 31, 2021.
Also at the meeting, Council is expected to vote on the following:
Council is expected to give first reading to four ordinances providing for the 2021 assessed services program: Ordinances 482-20, 483-20, 484-20, and 485-20 would authorize the assessment of estimated costs for various city services including $23,236,270 for sweeping, cleaning and snow removal for streets and alleys; $3,647,867 for street lighting outside of downtown; $239,651 for street lighting within downtown; and $5,152,352 for tree maintenance.
The public may watch the December 1 regular council meeting and scheduled committee meetings online by visiting https://toledo.legistar.com and scrolling down to the meeting and clicking on “in progress”.
- Ordinance 498-18 which would prohibit a landlord in the city from refusing to accept payments from rental assistance programs including the Section 8 housing choice voucher. The ordinance also specifies that a person can seek civil action up to two years after the occurrence of a discriminatory housing practice. The ordinance has been in Council’s Neighborhoods, Community Development & Health Committee since December 2018.
- Ordinance 442-20 which would approve $100,000 to assist with payment for evaluating the condition and marketability of the Spitzer and Nicholas buildings in downtown Toledo. The city has been working with the Lucas County Land Bank, ConnecToledo, and the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority to stabilize and return the buildings to productive use.
- Ordinance 451-20 which would provide for adjudication of challenges to motor vehicle violations issued via photo-enforcement devices in the Toledo Municipal Court. The ordinance would bring the city into compliance with state law following the Ohio Supreme Court invalidating its current process which involves using appointed hearing officers to adjudicate such challenges.
- Three ordinances associated with water system improvements: Ordinance 472-20 would approve $1,430,000 to DLZ Ohio Inc. for overseeing the performance contract with Johnson Controls, Inc. for implementation of the city’s automatic water metering and leak detection program. Ordinance 473-20 would approve $123,400 to contract with an independent consulting firm for a low-income drinking and waste water affordability study. Ordinance 479-20 would approve accepting $200,000 from the U.S. EPA for a home-by-home assessment and community education program with consultant Blue Condit, non-profit Freshwater Future, and local partner organizations to prioritize removal of lead service lines.
Council is expected to give first reading to four ordinances providing for the 2021 assessed services program: Ordinances 482-20, 483-20, 484-20, and 485-20 would authorize the assessment of estimated costs for various city services including $23,236,270 for sweeping, cleaning and snow removal for streets and alleys; $3,647,867 for street lighting outside of downtown; $239,651 for street lighting within downtown; and $5,152,352 for tree maintenance.
The public may watch the December 1 regular council meeting and scheduled committee meetings online by visiting https://toledo.legistar.com and scrolling down to the meeting and clicking on “in progress”.
 | Tim Schneider As Manager for Local Government Advocacy, Tim Schneider advocates for local policies and laws that safeguard and foster a pro-business environment in the Toledo Region. Tim has more than 10 years of legislative and public policy experience with the local, state and federal levels of government. |
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