Ballard Comes To Clermont(posted Oct 13) Greg Ballard, GOP candidate for Mayor, made a Clermont Town Hall visit on Oct 11 at the request of resident Linda Lucas. Ballard told the audience of about 20 that he is concerned about the growing crime rate and taxes. Ballard wanted to restructure the police department again, saying the police department belongs under the leadership of the Mayor. He said consolidation has removed that authority from the Mayor. He favored bringing back the Front Porch Alliance as form a community policing. Front Porch Alliance started with the Stephen Goldsmith administration but ended under Bart Peterson's administration. Ballard also called for better accountability with budgeting. Ballard disliked the idea of of $30 million 40 year bond issue being used for police and fire pension when the state government has always covered the pension fund. He said that the budget has a line item called other services of $68 million. He said it acts like a miscellaneous fund for spending. District 13 City County Councilor Robert Lutz said he voted against having that much money in other services. Lutz emphasized to the audience that he has only served on the council since June and did not support the Mayor's increase of the county option income tax. Lutz voted no after hearing from his constituents in earlier meetings. State Representative Phil Hinkle reminded the audience last year that the Mayor's administration submitted a budget with four empty pages that was passed by the majority Democratic Council. He also told the audience to look at the pay stubs and watch them drop as a result of Mayor's 65 percent increase on county option income tax. |
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