Councilman Moon has raised a good point -- and if the original 5 year levy raised $662,000 each year why wasn't the mortgage reduced or paid off in the first five years? How were those funds really spent? The new senior center was an unnecessarily expensive undertaking done without federal funding which the city could have obtained by going thru proper channels, but chose to cast aside in favor of putting it on our property taxes. And indeed where will the new "excess" monies go?

Observations:

First of all, the notion by city council and Mulligan to suggest the city oversee the finances of the senior center levy is hilarious at best. Are you kidding? As bad as the city is with handling money and THEY want to "oversee someone else's budget? I wouldn't want the dam city managing a kid's lunch money much less a large budget like this.

Secondly, and not to sanction the levy or condemn it, let's make a comparison between what you get with the seniors levy and what you get for 80% of your property taxes to support the dam schools. For around 30 bucks a year on the seniors levy, you provide rides for disabled people who are in wheelchairs and can't afford a 60 thousand dollar specialized handicapped van to haul them to drs appointments. You supply a gathering place for socializing and dining for a growing part of our society who have put in their time just as we all must do, especially since the baby boomers are aging and needing senior services. It will be used even more as more boomers retire and the next generation follows. The flip side of it is that they bit off more than they could chew on building this place. The mortgage, without some grants or outside help, is a tad bit overwhelming for anyone to undertake. Poor planning on someone's part.

What do you get for the 80% of your property taxes that go to the schools? You get a lousy performance, an overpaid admin and teacher staff producing and inferior product when graduated, so much so that Miami U.- Middletown has to set up a remedial program at the campus to upgrade the incoming freshmen from Middletown High School to help them start the freshman year at MUM. They simply aren't aren't ready when graduated from high school to attend college here in Middletown. For your 80% portion of your property taxes you also get a bottom tier grade standing on proficiency testing, a low indicator track record of accomplishment and a continual line of superintendent's who constantly ignore these facts, preferring to build new buildings instead of improving the academics in this district. You also get lousy performing sports programs in basketball, football and an 0-3 baseball team as an added treat. Still think that 80% of your property taxes are a good deal in comparison to the senior's levy money spent? I don't.

If I'm forced to pay property taxes, the 30 bucks for the seniors seems to be the better deal by far IMO. We all are getting ripped off paying for these lousy schools through our property taxes and the unnecessary need for their new schools in the approved bond levy. Hell, they can't educate the kids right in the new schools (elementary's) either as the performance hasn't changed be it old building or new.

No, the city needs to stay out of it. They screw up everything they touch, especially if it involves money.

I understand whismom. Poor planning and money handling on the Senior Center's part has led to a distrust for the citizens in their operation. Irresponsible spending on the first levy approval and now asking for another round of funds trying to temper the blow with the comment concerning having their funding cut. They still managed to buy new transport vans. If the levy were to pass, perhaps the public would feel more comfortable about this if an unbiased party would act as the fiduciary in this case, making the senior center provide justification for money usage and the amount asked for could be reduced to avoid the perception of asking for too much. The taxpayer needs to be informed periodically of their spending accountability if approved.

As far as levies are concerned, I still can't get as worked up about the seniors levy, even with this additional request as I do on any school levy money request. Just seems to me to be a better return on the taxpayer's money supporting the seniors than it does giving money to the Middletown schools. Talking about money wasted with absolutely no return....that would be the schools. At least the seniors offer some tangible services. 800+ bucks a year in property taxes for schools, especially when the property owner isn't getting squat for their taxes, can't be justified IMO.