Author Archives: Editor

Landlord Friendly Water Bill Ordinance to be Proposed at City Council Meeting Thursday, Feb 12

By Daniel Downs

This coming Thursday evening at 6:30 PM Councilman Louderback will propose a new ordinance to the Council. The purpose of the ordinance is to revise current municipal law that holds landlords solely responsible for tenants will bills. The primary problem seems to be the lack of stringent requirements renter who apply for water service but who fail to pay. Because water billing is quarterly, hundreds of dollars of unpaid water bills may accumulate for landlords can get the water turned off. Even after it has been discontinued, landlords often continue receiving water bills.

Landlords complained to the Council being unable to get the city stop or correct water services or billings because the service is in their tenant’s name. Because of this, the city does not go after tenants for unpaid water bills because the bill is by law the responsibility of landlords. To add injury to insult, the legal process to evict delinquent or destructive tenants can take many six or more months to resolve.

There are probably many ways this problem could be solved, and I want to add to them a few suggestions. Council should seriously consider making tenants solely responsible for their water bills. Council should also seriously consider the costs to taxpayers for collections, court proceedings, write-offs, and any additional costs of billing tenants. While a collections supervisor for a national service company, we found that sending bi-monthly reminders increased the number payments made by delinquent customers. This might reduce unpaid bills. Probably, a better solution is to place customers who rent on a monthly billing cycle instead of quarterly. There again, the costs of billing would certainly increase. The key to reducing delinquency and write-offs is not letting customers go beyond 30 days before seeking payment from customers.

That is known by all in the continually bailed out national corporate banking system that keeps inflation moving progressively upward and our standard of living moving downward.

Another possible way to resolve landlord-tenant water bill issue is to make landlords fully responsible for the water service and its billing. Let the landlords, who supposedly screen their tenants for their ability to pay, sign their tenants up, bill them monthly for the service, and then pay the city quarterly. A running average on water usage could be used for landlords to calculate monthly costs. After each quarterly billing cycle, landlords could adjust cost in accordance with city billing. Why shouldn’t landlords be able recoup those costs? Of course, the potential for greed on the part of landlords is inherent in this solution.

A Response to Austria Economics 101

In the February 4th article entitled Austria Economics 101,” Representative Austria was unfairly criticized for not supporting the “Stop the Congressional Pay Raise Act.” While it’s true that he did not join Representatives Kilroy, Latta, and Space as “Original Cosponsors” on January 6th, he did add his name to the list of this bill’s Cosponsors on January 21st — two weeks before the above article was printed. Three more of Ohio’s Representatives (Boccieri, Driehaus, and Kaptur) have signed on since then, raising the total number of Cosponsors from the article’s figure of 72 to 107.

In spite of such rapidly growing support, this pay freeze legislation lies buried in committees just like its previous two versions in 2007 and 2008. If anyone would like to help get the number of its official supporters up to a majority (218) of the 435 members of the House of Representatives, then please consider signing the online petition at www.payfreeze.org. A majority of 218 should be enough to pressure the congressional leadership into allowing it to be debated and voted on.

By Tom Foreman, Gainesville, FL

Christian Support for Killing Iraqis

The following is an excerpt of an article written by Jacob G. Hornberger by an XCJ reader. Hornberger raised the question about Christians uncritical acceptance of the Iraqi war.

Among the things about the Iraq War that I have never been able to understand is how American Christians have been able, in good conscience, to support this war. After all, no one can deny that neither Iraq nor the Iraqi people ever attacked the United States. That makes the United States the aggressor — the attacker — in this particular conflict. How could American Christians support the killing of Iraqis in such a war of aggression? How could they reconcile this with God’s sacred commandment, Thou shalt not murder.

To read the rest of the article, go here: http://www.fff.org/blog/jghblog2009-02-06.asp

Sabbath Discussions : What is the mark of the Beast in Revelation, the Book

By Daniel Downs

Now that our government’s latest effort to raise taxes is over, I want to resume my discussion of Revelation. I guess here discussion means with a conversation with myself. Nevertheless, it’s my hope and prayer that those who read these posts will benefit from my mental brain storms–as it were.

Oh, yes, lest I forget; I don’t actually believe these discussions will help any pastor long in the ministry understand Revelation any more than I think such students of the Bible are confused by Revelation. If the one I referred to in my first post was serious, I ask for your fervent prayer on his behalf.

Now, that’s off my chest; let’s consider what the mark of the Beast is as described in Revelation chapter 13:16-18.

Based on current technological developments, prophecy teachers tell us that the mark is probably a microcomputer chip. These chips are already being used in GIS technology. They are being implanted in pets, livestock, and in human newborns. Linked to satellites, devices, animals, or people with embedded microchips can be tracked to within a few feet anywhere in the world. If linked to supercomputers where our government, medical, and financial records are stored, big brother can know anything about our every activity including all of our financial transactions. With traffic and other surveillance cameras going up in every place imaginable, big brother as envisioned by George Orwell in his novel 1984 will soon be a reality. All that will be needed is a paranoid socialist dictator reigning over the world.

As mentioned in Revelation 13:18, the mark is a number representing the dictatorial beast. It is also pointed out by prophecy experts that in the future embedded chips will most likely possess the beast’s number or code to screen non-members of his global anti-religion club, which is another reason to suspect this beast will be a good socialist or secularist. Membership in this end time global anti-god club is voluntary. It is truly egalitarian. Its membership consists of rich and poor, famous and infamous, slaves and free citizens from all nationalities of the world. (13:16) Thus, under this tyrannical socialist dictator, racial prejudice is a thing of the past. The final bigotry of humanity to be eradicated is god-fearing haters of greed, oppression, immorality, falsehood, and the like. Consequently, those who refuse to join the club will likely loose their lives here on terra firma. (13:15)

One of the beautiful things about having everyone in the world embedded with a traceable microchip is how much greater the convenience in conducting financial transactions like buying and selling. Instead of wasting time getting paper and credit cards out of your pockets, billfold, or purse, all members of the global anti-god club will have to do is pass their hand or forehead past a scanner. It will be very similar to moving bar coded merchandise over scanners at most retailers today. Again, most non-members will not have to worry about this change because most will not be alive.

It’s true; socialist-secularism does not bode well for dissenters. History proves that much.

If we dig a little deeper (and here I’m not referring to a grave), we will find a few more valuable nuggets of knowledge. In the prophecies of Ezekiel, God sends an angel to mark the people on their forehead who were burdened by the evils done in Israel. (Ezek. 9:1-4). Concerning the rest, God ordered them to be killed. (9:5-8) Why? Divine justice demands unrelenting crime to be abolished. Those whose foreheads were marked for protection demonstrated their moral and emotional fidelity to the covenantal law of God. They choose not be become callous and numb to evil because of its acceptance and prevalence. They choose to suffer the pains of self-discipline and fidelity instead. That this is about a mental determination on the part of the marked and unmarked is further supported by God’s instruction to Ezekiel at the beginning of his calling:

“Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak My words to them. For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible speech or difficult language … whose words you cannot understand. But, I have sent you to them who should listen to you; yet the house of Israel will not listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me. Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate. Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads…. Do not be afraid of them or be dismayed before them, though they are a rebellious house.” (2:4-9)

The same moral fidelity is also represented by the 144,000 undefiled Jewish bondservants whose foreheads are seal in chapter 7 of Revelation.

Here in chapter 13, the opposite is the case. Those whose foreheads are sealed with the mark of the latest and greatest dictator are as immoral, unfaithful, and anti-Christ as the he is. The famous mark, 666, thus symbolizes the trinity of modern secularism consisting of statism, humanism and socialism. This modern secular trinity is the allegiance of Satan disguised as the worship of humanity and self. It reflects the taboo of secularism and naturalism that claims god-is-dead or never existed while making the state the almighty and humanistic science its religion. This is similar to the Roman faithful making Caesar a god and building the temple of Caesar in Pergamum. Jesus assures us that this is where Satan seat of power or governance was located. (Rev. 3:13)

Jesus said, “Your heart is where your treasure is.” (Mat. 6:21) I think I remember a preacher once saying during an offertory that it is where your allegiance is as well. Okay, maybe it wasn’t a preacher taking an offering, but it applies nonetheless. Our fidelity to the covenantal law of faith in Jesus Christ is why the Spirit of God seals our foreheads as a token assurance of eternal life in God’s kingdom. (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph.1:31-14; Eph. 4:30)

Our mind and emotions cannot be disconnected from our eternal spirit.

According to the Apostle Paul, we are to …

“live no longer as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard of Him and have been taught in Him, just as the truth is in Jesus, that in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness and truth.” (Eph. 4:17-24)

$900,000 missing in Greene County?

By John Mitchel, LtCol, USAF (Ret)

John Mitchel, Patriots Against Public Corruption founder, announced that he would testify before the Greene County Commission on February 10th at 9:00 AM. He claims that the Greene County Commission has conspired to illegally launder County tax dollars into the campaign funds of Dave Hobson, Steve Austria and other Greene County politicians. Furthermore, according to Mitchel, the Board of Commissioners has collaborated with other elected and appointed officials to cover up pervasive “pay-to-play” politics in Greene County.

In response to the announcement Mitchel commented, “In 2003 the Greene County Commission signed an un-bid contract with the Dayton Development Coalition for $1.9 million to lobby for Wright Patterson AFB during 2005 Base Realignment And Closure (BRAC) negotiations. Except for politicians, officers and staff at the Coalition, and a few consultants, this sweetheart deal did nothing to advance economic development in the Miami Valley, let alone Greene County. Not only does this look and smell like money laundering on behalf of Austria, Hobson and others, it may violate three state laws, not to mention the federal Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act.”

Mitchel added, “I think it’s strange that even though the contract was for $1.9 million, only $1 million was financed by Greene County taxpayers through a grant and Economic Development Note with interest. I believe the citizens first should know why they paid the interest on an interest-free loan to the Dayton Development Coalition, a private corporation, and second, what is the source and what happened to the unaccounted-for $900,000. Sooner or later we will learn the answers to those questions. Hopefully that will happen Tuesday after I offer my testimony before the Greene County Commission.”

Beavercreek Oil Painter’s Whimsical Art On Display at Express Yourself Coffeehouse & Art Gallery

jeffpotter1Beavercreek artist Jeff Potter has hung 16 paintings that span the range from whimsical to sinister at Express Yourself Coffeehouse & Art Gallery in downtown Xenia. Potter, a largely self taught oil painter, says that his works are, “attempts at illusion. My aim is to imply there are hearts beating beneath the flat paint layers.” He succeeds magnificently with the present exhibition. Particularly striking are his Humpty Dumpty sitting on a wall and a haunting image of Herodius holding the head of John the Baptist in her scarlet clawed hands. Potter’s work consists of two styles including outdoor scenes in the impressionist style and sharply defined portraits. He hopes to convince the viewer that life indeed has left its mark on his works. “I hold it as a goal well worth pursuing,” he remarks. It is apparent that he is very close to his goal. His paintings will be on display through February 16 during regular business hours Monday through Saturday at Express Yourself Coffeehouse and Art Gallery, located a block from the Courthouse at 78 E. Main St. For hours and information visit ExpressYourselfCoffeehouse.com, phone (937) 372-7446 or by email at xeniacoffe@sbcglobal.net.

Austria Economics 101

By Andy Myers

H.R. 156 or “Stop the Congressional Pay Raise Act” was introduced January 6th of this year by Rep. Harry Mitchell (D) Arizona. There are 72 co-sponsor’s of this bill including 3 from Ohio. Mary Jo Kilroy (D) OH-15, Robert Latta (R) OH-5 and Zachary Space (D) OH-18.

Where’s Representative Steve Austria (R) OH-7? Would this not be a show of solidarity with those struggling in District 7. For Mr. Austria to co-sponsor this bill, which is sensible when so many in his district are struggling to make ends meet, is a no-brainer?

Last year 2.6 million fellow citizens lost their jobs raising unemployment to it’s highest level in 15 years. Countless others have had their pay reduced or frozen.

What did Mr. Austria and Congress do in these dire economic conditions? They gave themselves a $4,700 dollar cost of living increase raising the average salary to $174,000. Elected officials “giving themselves” pay raises is hardly popular.

In addition to our federal representatives, some state legislatures also like to “stealthily” increase their pay in late night sessions so as not to allow their constituents a voice in the matter. Just ask the Pennsylvania state legislators that got voted out of office in 2005 after they increased their pay in one such session. The legislature had a “change in heart” a few months later, but more than 20 lawmakers lost their jobs over it, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense.

We have a “fresh slate” in Congressional District 7 with 1st term Rep. Austria. Not only should Mr. Austria develop strategies to assist with sustaining and developing job growth in our area, he should also show “commons sense ethics reform” by co-sponsoring H.R. 156.

Call Rep. Austria’s office at (937) 325-0474 or send him an email at https://forms.house.gov/austria/contact-form.shtml asking him to show some solidarity with the people struggling in the 7 counties he represents by co-sponsoring Stop The Congressional Pay Raise Act.

Comparing the City and Schools Revenues and Their Respective Tax Issues

By Daniel Downs

If you haven’t read the News-Current lately, you missed an important announcement. Xenia Community School officials are putting their huge bond issue back on the ballot in May. As the News-Current noted, 59% of the voters rejected another large long-term tax increase to fund the building of new schools.

The big push by school administrators and our elected school board is for the building of large complex for the high school and other community organizations. Rebuilding schools that have been around since the time I was born, which was around the time God created the earth, are of secondary importance. Among those schools are Shawnee Elementary, my first school, Cox Elementary, my second, and Spring Hill Elementary. Oh, my, I forgot the administrators want out of that ancient administrative building on the East side like yesterday. What is not needed is the current plan for less than the best type of schools.

To top it all off, voters will be voting on the city’s 5.0 mill operating tax levy in February. Having talked to my council member, read the council minutes, and reviewed the latest annual financial report, it is obvious that the city needs more money to compensate for the rising cost of doing business. Inflation continually reduces what a dollar buys. I just don’t see the need for an annual increase from $417,000 to about $1.9 million. I would certainly vote for a renewal and possibly for an addition 1.5 mills. But, in a deep recession, any new tax increases don’t seem like a good idea.

Nevertheless, let’s look at the two tax issues.

A renewal of the city’s 3.5 mill operating tax levy would continue generating the same amount it has since 1959, which is $417,000. As mentioned above, the proposed replacement levy of 3.5 mills with an additional 1.5 mills means property owners who used to pay around $26 a year for property valued at $100,000 will now pay an additional $153, which breaks down to about $12 more a month. However, those figures only cover the 3.5 mills plus a 1.5 mills addition. They do not reveal the overall amount of property tax paid to the city. The same owner of a $100,000 home currently pays about $135 in property tax to the city. If the levy is passed, the same homeowner will be giving the city $288 a year.

As everyone who is making a buck knows, the city taxes every dollar earned at the rate of 1.75%. The income tax generates about $9 million a year. That is over and above the $9 plus million residents pay for like water, sewer, and sanitation services. So the current levy is a relatively small but necessary part of the city’s operating budget. Because of inflating costs, the 3.5 mill levy now is worth only .92 mills. In other words, the city needs more revenue in addition to the inflationary rise of income tax revenue, which this year may decline along with their earnings on investments.

During the 2006-2007 school year, Xenia Community Schools received almost $3 million from its 0.5% income tax levy. The school district’s combined property tax levies is 43.9 mills, which brought in about $20 million. A family whose home is appraised at $100,000 pays the school district about $960 a year in property taxes. The bond issue would increase that amount to $1,092.

To see the whole picture on taxes, it must be realized that the total property tax burden of the above homeowner is currently $1,504 dollars a year. The tax proposed by the city will increase it to $1,657. The school bond issue would increase it to $1,769. The same property owner also pays the Greene County Career Center a little over $75 per year, and the County around $316. To repave our deteriorating side streets, voters will have to pass a bond issue to cover the estimated $30 million in costs. Moreover, every working resident currently pays 2.25% of their income to the city and the school district. Without any deductions, a family with annual income of $60,000 pays out $1,500 in income tax. If state and federal income taxes as well as sales and gasoline taxes are accounted for, the tax burden of voting tax payer is getting little too heavy for this deep recessionary period. We can all give thanks to the federal government for it too.

An Analysis of the Proposed 5.0 Mill Operating Levy on the 3 Feb. Ballot

On 3 February, Xenia citizens will be voting on only one issue. Voters will determine whether to give the city a raise in the sum of $1.86 million a year.

City council agrees with City Manger Jim Percival and Finance Director Mark Bazelak that without this new levy Xenia will not have enough money for daily operations. Daily operations include police and fire protection, ambulatory services, maintenance of parks, sidewalks, streets, and a host of other services.

Like the rest of us, city revenues purchase less gas and just about everything else needed for daily operations. The continuous increases of inflation are a pain to us all. So is a devalued levy to a city budget. The 3.5 mill operating levy passed originally passed 1959 has decreased in value to less than 1 mill (0.92) or $417,000. (see note below) If law permit levies to appreciate based on average inflation, the same levy would now generate over $1 million per year. That is why city officials want Xenia residents to approve the new levy, but is the proposed levy really necessary? Are city officials just hyping up the need just to get more money for raises and pet projects?

If the levy doesn’t pass, city officials claim that they will have to reduce some services and more personnel. Percival said, “city staff and services such as leaf collection and capital and street improvements would likely be cut in early 2010,” according to News-Current reporter Aaron Keith Harris. Percival also thinks some departments are already understaffed because of cuts in 2003.

That is one of the reasons Percival wants more money. He wants to hire more maintenance personnel.
He also wants a new police facility to station more police and a third fire station to house more fire fighting personnel. Having reviewed U.S. Department of Justice statistics on local police departments as well as National Fire Protection Association data on local fire departments, Xenia certainly doesn’t need more staff now. Once the population of Xenia surpasses 28,000, a couple of more police probably would be necessary. Interestingly, cities comparable in size to Xenia have two things Xenia does not: three fire stations and more voluntary fire fighters than paid ones. I suspect paid employees have more incentive to do the best job possible than do volunteers, but then union workers also have a different reputation. Nevertheless, I think Xenia council’s idea to hire more part-time fire fighters is a particularly good one. I think that part-time seasonal employees would be ideal for solving the insufficient number of park maintenance workers pointed out by Percival.

Repairing infrastructure is another issue driving the city officials to seek more revenue. The deteriorating retaining wall and sidewalks at Shawnee Park needs repair. This need alone will cost an estimated $800,000 to repair. There are other structures that do or will require maintenance. City Hall, the service center, and XFD need as well.

But is the city’s financial situation really that dependent on the levy? Xenia residents voted in a 1.5% income tax years ago. In 1991, voters agreed to increase it to 1.75 percent. The income tax not only produces a significant amount of the city’s general operating revenue, about $8.7 million a year, but it also increases with inflationary increases of income. The $8.7 million probably doesn’t include additional tax revenues from the 3,000 new residents and as well as new businesses that Nimfa Simpson revealed to the U.S. Census Bureau. If only one-third pay income and property taxes, Xenia is doing better then previous reported by Bazelak. At least, I didn’t see any mention about the economic effects of the additional population in Bazelak’s or Percival’s reports. Another source of revenue is $1.6 million in other local taxes, which the current operating levy is a part. All other general fund revenues, which include vehicle and gasoline taxes, grants from other governments, and return on investments, amount to $10.4 million. When government program revenues including charges for water, sewer and sanitation as well various operating and capital grants are added, the cities total revenues increases to $28.1 million in 2007. Total expenses were $26.9 million for the same year. Police, fire, and other safety operations account a little over 41 percent ($11.1 million) of all expenses. Water, sewer, sanitation, and related expense account for nearly 32 percent. State law requires the city maintain a $2.5 million reserve fund (10%) for emergencies. That leaves $4.8 million or 17% for all other expenses including payroll, insurance, maintenance, equipment, and so forth.

According to city officials, less state funding and other potential reduction of revenues renders the continuation of a $1 million surplus less likely by 2010. Of course, the federal stimulus might trickle down to our local community. If so, it could make up for a loss of $90,000 in state funds, and it could be used for some capital improvement projects.

Whether or not Xenia sees any federal stimulus dollars, city management still projects a budget deficit by 2010, which means more operating revenues will be needed. To that end, they presented to City Council five funding options:

Option One: They could do nothing, which would decrease annual revenues by $417,000 a year.

Option Two: They could renew the current levy, which would continue generating the same annual amount of revenue it does now– $417,000. According to Percival and Bazelak, renewing the levy would still leave the city with insufficient operating revenue.

Option Three: Council could pursue a 3.5 mill operating replacement levy. A replacement levy would increase revenues by $1.27 million a year. By law, levy renewals only permit a city to tax property for original amount of the original levy. The effective millage of the original 3.5 mill operating levy is locked into the assessed property values of 1959. The effective rate of .92 mills reflects the reduced current purchasing power of the revenue due to inflation, which also explains why a 3.5 mill levy would generate $1.27 million. Since 1959, property values have increased because of land development, improvements, and inflation.

Option Four: They could increase city income tax from 1.75 percent to 2 percent, which would increase operating revenues by $1.443 million. This is the least desirable option for several reasons: One reason is its negative effect on low-income wage earners and their families, and two is its questionable constitutionality. The writers of the U.S. Constitution opposed income tax for good reason: a limited federal government is the best kind.

Option Five: The last option given to the Council for consideration was a 5.0 mill replacement levy. A 5.0 mill levy will give the city a total of $1.86 million a year. That is $1.27 million at 3.5 mills plus $590,000 at 1.5 mills. This is the option City Council chose to place on the February ballot. Notice, $1.86 million is the official figure estimated by the Greene County auditor. This amount will be presented to voters on 3 February.

The County Auditor estimates the average annual amount of tax paid on a property valued at $100,000 is $26.34. If Xenia voters approve the proposed 5.0 mill operating levy, the tax amount for the same property will increase to $153.13 or about $12.50 per month.

The proposed operating levy will only directly affect property owners. The good news is that the income of homeowners has been keeping up with inflation. Census data shows that the median income of Xenia households with mortgages was $44,727 in 2000 and $55,447 in 2007. Their yearly income ahs increased an average of about 3 percent. That is not case for renters, low-income wage earners, and many retirees.

Obviously, property owners have good reason to show up at the polls on 3 February, but so do others. If you hope to one day own your own home in Xenia, your vote will affect your future cost of home ownership. Even if you always intend to rent, your vote will determine whether quality services are maintained or added.

Note: 1 mill is equal to 1/1000 a dollar of assessed property value.

Commodities Market Marketing by Federal Government

This is interesting…

The government subsidized American sugar and applies a tariff to imported sugar, thus the food and beverage industry switched to corn syrup because it became cheaper than using sugarcane.

Now, they are conveniently coming up with a way to scare the public away from corn syrup and back to the higher priced sugar cane…interesting.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I understand that corn syrup is killing Americans and that sugar cane is much better from a health perspective — but since when did the government care about that?

www.washingtonpost.com, 1/6/09.