By Tom

May 23, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this

The City of Hamilton has no choice but to make these budget cuts. We as taxpayers have been making budget cuts and running our credit up to support all the Federal, State and Local governments throughtout the Nation. The old say ing is put the burden of taxes on business is a fallacy. People pay taxes not business! If you levy a tax on business they must raise their prices of good and services they offer or they will go out of business. The average American Family biggest expense is taxes. John Q. Public pays nearly 44% of his wages out in taxes! These taxes are the direct, indirect and hidden taxes that we pay everyday. If you wonder why it takes 30+years to payoff a home, 6 years for a car loan, Credit card debt is averaging nearly $9000 more then tripled the last 17 years. The two income family is necessary because one earner has to support the family household and the other supports the governments. Back in the 70s woman where sold a bill of goods and they where being told that they are slaves to the household and to their man. Today woman work 40+ hours per week at the expense and emotional devastation of the children and the family unit to support governments. They now are tax slaves and working hard to increase the slavery. Start cutting budgets not just on the local level but let us strart cutting budgets on the Federal and state levels. Something like 5% cut a year for the next 5 years would be a great start and put sunshine laws on the existing programs and services.

By Tom

May 23, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this

The City of Hamilton has no choice but to make these budget cuts. We as taxpayers have been making budget cuts and running our credit up to support all the Federal, State and Local governments throughtout the Nation. The old say ing is put the burden of taxes on business is a fallacy. People pay taxes not business! If you levy a tax on business they must raise their prices of good and services they offer or they will go out of business. The average American Family biggest expense is taxes. John Q. Public pays nearly 44% of his wages out in taxes! These taxes are the direct, indirect and hidden taxes that we pay everyday. If you wonder why it takes 30+years to payoff a home, 6 years for a car loan, Credit card debt is averaging nearly $9000 more then tripled the last 17 years. The two income family is necessary because one earner has to support the family household and the other supports the governments. Back in the 70s woman where sold a bill of goods and they where being told that they are slaves to the household and to their man. Today woman work 40+ hours per week at the expense and emotional devastation of the children and the family unit to support governments. They now are tax slaves and working hard to increase the slavery. Start cutting budgets not just on the local level but let us strart cutting budgets on the Federal and state levels. Something like 5% cut a year for the next 5 years would be a great start and put sunshine laws on the existing programs and services.

By Bryan Snodgrass

May 23, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

First the city should start with and immediate freeze on all pay increases. I would even go as far as to say even a 5% reduction in pay of all salaried employees. All of the little perks and benifits, get rid of them. second if its not absolutley needed then get rid of it. But cutting jobs in our police department and fire departments is not only crazy, but deprives the public of saftey.

By Bryan Snodgrass

May 23, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

First the city should start with and immediate freeze on all pay increases. I would even go as far as to say even a 5% reduction in pay of all salaried employees. All of the little perks and benifits, get rid of them. second if its not absolutley needed then get rid of it. But cutting jobs in our police department and fire departments is not only crazy, but deprives the public of saftey.

By Bryan Snodgrass

May 23, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

First the city should start with and immediate freeze on all pay increases. I would even go as far as to say even a 5% reduction in pay of all salaried employees. All of the little perks and benifits, get rid of them. second if its not absolutley needed then get rid of it. But cutting jobs in our police department and fire departments is not only crazy, but deprives the public of saftey.

By Sally

May 23, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

Why would you make budget cuts by laying off Police Officers and Firefighters? It is my understanding that they are the ones who protect us when need be. That means that they would be at minimum and response time would be delayed because they are running their butts off trying to take more calls then they can handle. That means more criminals getting away because we cant get there in time. What if a child dies in a wreck because the Fire department cant get there in time to get them out of the car because they had another wreck to attend to? Try and explain that to a grieving parent. Seems like that would become a lawsuit. Whose conscious will that be on? How about we stop spending money on rebuiling Hamilton until the financial situation is cleared. I am TOTALLY against laying off important jobs.

By Sally

May 23, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

Why would you make budget cuts by laying off Police Officers and Firefighters? It is my understanding that they are the ones who protect us when need be. That means that they would be at minimum and response time would be delayed because they are running their butts off trying to take more calls then they can handle. That means more criminals getting away because we cant get there in time. What if a child dies in a wreck because the Fire department cant get there in time to get them out of the car because they had another wreck to attend to? Try and explain that to a grieving parent. Seems like that would become a lawsuit. Whose conscious will that be on? How about we stop spending money on rebuiling Hamilton until the financial situation is cleared. I am TOTALLY against laying off important jobs.

By Rookie

May 23, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

The City of Hamitlon has the best Police and Fire dept around. As a member of the police department, I might be facing a layoff. What am I to think of Hamilton, when I just purchased a home in Hamilton and I put my life on the line everyday to protect my fellow man here in Hamilton (as do the firemen who are also facing layoffs). Do I wait out the storm and see if I still have a job, or do I start looking for another job and try to sell my home in an already slow market, in the hopes that I do not lose my home and it goes into foreclosure. What do I tell my family about my job future and that we may have to move AGAIN!!! I am proud to be a Police Officer and proud to serve this great city. I work with some of the best Officers around, and hope that our Chief and city leaders look at other ways to save our jobs, so I can continue to protect and serve. But now I am not so sure what the city future holds for me.

By Rookie

May 23, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

The City of Hamitlon has the best Police and Fire dept around. As a member of the police department, I might be facing a layoff. What am I to think of Hamilton, when I just purchased a home in Hamilton and I put my life on the line everyday to protect my fellow man here in Hamilton (as do the firemen who are also facing layoffs). Do I wait out the storm and see if I still have a job, or do I start looking for another job and try to sell my home in an already slow market, in the hopes that I do not lose my home and it goes into foreclosure. What do I tell my family about my job future and that we may have to move AGAIN!!! I am proud to be a Police Officer and proud to serve this great city. I work with some of the best Officers around, and hope that our Chief and city leaders look at other ways to save our jobs, so I can continue to protect and serve. But now I am not so sure what the city future holds for me.

By Rookie

May 23, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

The City of Hamitlon has the best Police and Fire dept around. As a member of the police department, I might be facing a layoff. What am I to think of Hamilton, when I just purchased a home in Hamilton and I put my life on the line everyday to protect my fellow man here in Hamilton (as do the firemen who are also facing layoffs). Do I wait out the storm and see if I still have a job, or do I start looking for another job and try to sell my home in an already slow market, in the hopes that I do not lose my home and it goes into foreclosure. What do I tell my family about my job future and that we may have to move AGAIN!!! I am proud to be a Police Officer and proud to serve this great city. I work with some of the best Officers around, and hope that our Chief and city leaders look at other ways to save our jobs, so I can continue to protect and serve. But now I am not so sure what the city future holds for me.

By Cam

May 23, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

Hamilton is the most poorly run city of its size in Ohio. The ignorant voters continue to elect the same tired old politicians. High Street is a ghost town. Hamilton now wants to cut police, fire, and parks. What a joke. The mayor and council need to be removed and people with vision need to step up. Mayor Ryan needs to spend more time on the city then his bar business which is bound to fail anyway. Who in their right mind would come to a crime infested city with poor parking. I give the Riverbank Cafe a year and it will join the long list of “FOR RENT” signs lining High Street. My new motto for Hamilton will be “FOR RENT.” Or “FORECLOSED.”

By Cam

May 23, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

Hamilton is the most poorly run city of its size in Ohio. The ignorant voters continue to elect the same tired old politicians. High Street is a ghost town. Hamilton now wants to cut police, fire, and parks. What a joke. The mayor and council need to be removed and people with vision need to step up. Mayor Ryan needs to spend more time on the city then his bar business which is bound to fail anyway. Who in their right mind would come to a crime infested city with poor parking. I give the Riverbank Cafe a year and it will join the long list of “FOR RENT” signs lining High Street. My new motto for Hamilton will be “FOR RENT.” Or “FORECLOSED.”

By Mike

May 23, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

I think laying off the police and fire is criminal. Cut the salaries and positions in the city building, not public safety. Why do we need two or three assistants for every city position? If the person in the job, making the “big bucks” can’t handle his or her job, put someone there who can. I would think that if we do away with these positions, perks, and vehicles they have, we could save enough to help out. Then let’s put a pay and benefit freeze on the departments funded by the General Fund. We will make the unions mad but that’s life on a budget, you live with what you’ve got. Later on when the cities finances improve we can slowly add things back to them and set things right.

By Cam

May 23, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

Hamilton is the most poorly run city of its size in Ohio. The ignorant voters continue to elect the same tired old politicians. High Street is a ghost town. Hamilton now wants to cut police, fire, and parks. What a joke. The mayor and council need to be removed and people with vision need to step up. Mayor Ryan needs to spend more time on the city then his bar business which is bound to fail anyway. Who in their right mind would come to a crime infested city with poor parking. I give the Riverbank Cafe a year and it will join the long list of “FOR RENT” signs lining High Street. My new motto for Hamilton will be “FOR RENT.” Or “FORECLOSED.”

By JIm

May 23, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

In the past Hamilton cared for the family unit, including the children. As they make budget cuts what does it show they care about? They have money for the downtown area (read business owners) and nothing for the working class and their families. Cut out the parks and where do the people have to get out of the house with the kids? They talk about having green space, but now they want to turn it over to others. Must be nice to just walk away from a problem and let someone else take care of it without regard as to why they have the elected office they hold.