Question on City Committees

To be a member of any of the committees such as the Golf, Tree or Airport Committees, do you have to be a resident of Middletown? If not, OK. If yes, then why, as I go to each list of members on each committee, are there people listed with non-Middletown addresses and zip codes? The tax committee has members who are not living in this town. Shouldn't that matter? There are also some members on various lists that have no expiration date as to their service on that committee. Sonny Hill is on one committee. Isn't Mr. Hill deceased? How often are these lists reviewed? The Golf Committee has a member that lives in Greycliff, a subdivision beyond Hunter. Should a person not living in Middletown have a decision making position in Middletown? Is residency necessary here? Just asking for info.

Having a great deal of experience with "City Appointed" committees and boards - they do not require residency.  The most important factor on most of these is who knows who.

So in otherwords the City is breaking its own rules/laws.  Is that what we are saying?

I am a resident of Monroe but I have sat on numerous Middletown Committees including the BECC, (Business and Education Collaborative Committee), city master plan and the Middletown School Tech Committee.

Mike--we all know that these pesky regulations are like taxes(only for the ltlle people), and are flaunted at whim, depending on whether Council/admin wants you "in or out".

wow--obviously these message boards ARE read by many and quickly.

To my knowledge Monroe only has residents on its committees. Most people do not work in Monroe who sit on the councils, boards and committees.

People who operate their businesses should be heard too. Not just the residents.

Property taxes have risen dramatically and income taxes also are above that of Monroe and other areas. However, it is still competitive to operate in Middletown. As long as taxes stay low.

I think our City Manager understands that increasing tax rates can actually lower tax revenues. How much would revenues rise if Middletown was competitive with Monroe on a tax rate basis?

Employees want lower city income tax rates (Middletown is .25% higher than Monroe)
Employers want lower property tax

Middletown is becoming pro-Business. Next push is to reduce the size of government. Also utilize services of the county and other organizations to administer social programs.

Committees are the answer. Get involved. Join something to help Middletown.

John- you mentioned that employees want lower income tax rates. True. You also mentioned that employers want lower property taxes. So do employees. "Property taxes have risen dramatically" and income taxes are above Monroe's" but it is still competitive AS LONG AS TAXES STAY LOW". John- that's the problem. The income taxes are 1.75%, heading to 2.% (from a long time 1.5% rate.) The property taxes in Middletown, are some of Butler County's highest around. I think one of the many things that is hurting this town is the high taxes paid by the citizens versus the amount of return in services, school performance and non-progressive growth the town offers. People simply don't think they're getting any value for the taxes that they are forced to pay. We keep paying like it's Springboro, but we keep getting a payback like it's -- well- Middletown. "Committees are the answer"- Well--- I believe, based on the statements above, that the committees have a lot of work to do before they can be taken seriously. They're off to a bad start when they can't even follow their own rules as to selection criteria, aren't they? Middletown is "BECOMING pro-business". What caused the "anti business" climate that there is now a need to become"pro-business"? How did we develop a mindset to not welcome more business? Businesses should be heard, not just the residents. John, some residents are not heard either. Depends on who you are in this town.