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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > August > 24 > Entry
County auditor resigns BMV in protest of fees
Press release from Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds:
Packed away in this year’s tumultuous state budget discussions was Governor Ted Strickland’s decision to increase the fee on driver’s license renewals.
That decision was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back for Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds, a strong conservative who is tired of seeing federal and state government mandate higher taxes on the citizens in his county. Auditor Reynolds has decided to resign as Deputy Registrar of the Hamilton West License Bureau in light of fee increases, and allow the state to bid out the contract for the location.
“My interest in government is deeply rooted in the belief that we need to decrease the tax burden on our citizens by reducing the size of government,” Auditor Reynolds stated in a letter to Carolyn Y. Williams, Acting Ohio Registrar. “Unfortunately, Governor Strickland has chosen to fund big government by signing into law a mandatory 25% fee increase on anyone requiring an Ohio driver’s license. I refuse to be a part of his decision to pass along big government tax increases in the form of higher license fees.”
The Auditor’s office has operated the West Side BMV for several years. Upon taking over the office, Auditor Reynolds significantly improved efficiency with better internal controls and management. Reynolds commits to working with the State License Bureau until and through the transition to a new Deputy Registrar.
Reynolds has cut hundreds of thousands of dollars from his own office budget over the past 15 months, and introduced budget transparency in Butler County with a web site location for taxpayers to see line-item office expenditures. During last year’s property tax evaluations, Reynolds contested state rules by refusing to take into account the higher value year into his reevaluation. This effort led to fairer assed property values during down economic times and provided county homeowners a break on their property taxes. Reynolds also hosted town meetings throughout the county to encourage property owners to challenge the state-mandated formula for the revaluation and look for value decreases to save money. These efforts have demonstrated Reynolds’ diligence in holding the line on government spending and tax increases.
“My decision to resign as Deputy Registrar hinges largely on the governor’s decision to increase taxes (fees) at a time when no citizen can afford such a tax increase,” Reynolds stated in his letter to the acting state registrar.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: County Auditor
Comments
By willie
August 24, 2009 2:20 PM | Link to this
Why doesn’t more officals speak out like this! Strickland and Obama are going to tax everything they can to buy their votes from the low lifes and illegal aliens.
By Brian Hester
August 24, 2009 4:13 PM | Link to this
This would be the same Reynolds that raised everyone’s real property taxes by valuating countless properties increasing in value despite the housing market? The same Reynolds who doesn’t apparently know that the same budget has an across-the-board income tax rate cut that exceeds the license fee renewal? Grandstand much, sir?
By Go Roger
August 24, 2009 5:53 PM | Link to this
Note to Brian Hester, or whomever you really are. You Dems have just got to get past this non-story. Many many properties were also lowered in value, and if you were a homeowner, you had a chance to contest your home value, but since you probably live in a subsidized section 8 apartment, you have no worries, Obama’s going to pay for everything.
By Robert
August 25, 2009 10:12 AM | Link to this
Note to Go Roger: I’ve been trying to sell my house (not Section 8) for nine months and can’t sell it for $20,000 less than your buddy Roger has it valued for taxes. Yes, Go Roger, please go away.
By freddy
August 25, 2009 7:42 PM | Link to this
why doesn’t somebody just tell the truth, he could not manage the place. He is just plain and simply not competent to run the Auditor’s office nor the license bureau and all the bs about saving money will be exposed. Just another political talking head, spewing bs and trying to build a resume for his next appointment rather than doing anything with substance. What did he really save ? Somebody looses their license and guess what Reynolds just saved the guy a buck or two - probably should charge the knuckle head even more. What about the $$ he wasted with bad political hires and poor decisions he has already made at the license bureau before conviently dumping it and blaiming it on us Dems - any body ask about that ?
By jlowe
August 25, 2009 8:55 PM | Link to this
BIG DEAL - what does this mean to the majority of the tax payers in BC. NOTHING. This is another weak Reynolds attempt at headline grabbing. This guys runs his office as stupid as he does his campaigns. He might as well jump into the commissioner race along with other loon carpenter.