Mayor Tom Perciak raised the idea of charging residents for rubbish collection, but said Strongsville has not reached the point where it will start billing -- yet.
The mayor, speaking at a hearing on Strongsville's 2013 budget, called the $2.3 million trash fund "a huge amount of money."
"I can see why most municipalities around us are looking at this in a whole new light and started passing along the cost to residents," Perciak said.
Communities including Brook Park, Berea and Parma Heights now charge for curbside refuse pickup, he said.
"We've stayed away from that and we plan on staying away from that if we continue to rev the engines of economic growth," Perciak said.
Income tax collection is up 4.6 percent this year over 2011, according to Finance Director Joseph Dubovec.
Strongsville, in the middle of five-year contract with Republic Waste, will not see its trash hauling costs increase next year.
But Perciak said if the city's business growth stagnates, charging for trash collection is something Strongsville will have to consider.
"This is a hot potato," he said. "It's a red flashing item we've got to keep our eyes on."
Let's spend our money wisely. Look at the hit homeowners are taking. Water and sewer going up. Real estate taxes will now be going up. And, don't forget about all those electric heat homeowners whose bills are going to drastically be increasing. And we have many aging homeowners - those who will be living on fixed incomes. Pretty soon you will be facing a city of homeowners who are struggling to keep their homes - so they may fall to neglect. Be very careful of how many times you keep coming to us - it might backfire. Again, spend our money wisely! And, if comparing to cities that do charge, also compare to cities that don't - that is, those cities who are able to manage their tax dollars better, for the benefit of all its citizens.
Everyone who lives in Strongsville DOES already pay the same tax rate.
But, yes, basically - those who live and work here get 100% credit for doing so. And those who live here but work outside of the city get credit for 75% of the tax withheld by their employer. Each city determines what amount of credit. they give to those who work outside of the city - some give only 25% or 50%.
At the same time, I'm sure there are many who have no idea the situation was ever different. In 2004, Perciak's first year in office, he convinced council to pass this reduction as a three year temporary measure. In 2007, it was then renewed as another three year measure, still supposedly temporary. In 2010, an ordinance was passed once again, but this time around the credit reduction became permanent. And Mike Gallagher, now our representative on the Cuyahoga County council, was a member of those first two versions of city council who approved this temporary measure. When he ran for the county position, he proudly proclaimed that he had never raised taxes during his tenure in Strongsville. Well, maybe not technically........
People too often comment on taxes merely because they write a check without knowing why or how that amount is calculated.