Criticism of Lordstown's income tax increase is unfair

Criticism of Lordstown's income tax increase is unfair
EDITOR:
Over the past few weeks, I have pondered over all the criticism dealt Lordstown with the increase of the income tax from a half-percent to 1 percent from the newspapers, radio, UAW 1112 president and a few individuals. But the most scathing editorial comment was that there is no remorse in Lordstown government for the autoworkers. How very untrue. This same Lordstown government has made many sacrifices over these last few years to help secure GM's staying here and helping to save the autoworkers' jobs. Let the facts be known.
Lordstown has given GM 100 percent tax abatements for 10 years for the Cobalt. The school had to agree with this abatement and sacrificed much for the good of GM and its workers. There was also another previous 10-year tax abatement given to GM. Other businesses in Lordstown were given abatements also to keep them here and their employees working.
Lordstown has received less than $1,000 in income tax this last year from all the businesses in this village. This includes GM.
Lordstown stands to lose a projected minimum of $500,000 to $1 million in revenue with the elimination of the third shift.
Lordstown has absorbed the loss of income from other programs during these taxing years like "just-in-time inventory" and the "foreign trade zone."
Lordstown was told that with the new paint shop that GM wanted an alternate source of water. A $3 million, 24-inch waterline was just completed last year to fill that request. Grants from the state helped, but Lordstown used over $1 million of our monies to fulfill that request. That alternate source has yet to be utilized by GM.
It is a false statement, at most, to say that the majority of the autoworkers will pay even more with the increase. The majority will not. Any worker living in a community with an income tax will not pay more. Only a few will in the townships that cannot have an income tax.
The UAW 1112 president was quick to point out that Warren (his place of residence) will lose over $100,000 with this increase, but what have the neighboring communities given up for GM and the autoworkers? This writer would like an answer to that question. Whatever they did cannot compare to what we have given. Lordstown has provided police, fire and road services for the safety and benefit of GM, other villages businesses and their employees. Keeping GM afloat does benefit the entire area, not just Lordstown.
In a UAW letter, it was said (that rumor has it) that Lordstown recently purchased four Ford Econoline vans. Not true. There isn't one Ford Econoline van purchased by this village. We have purchased every cruiser, car and truck except one from GM stock in the past 30 years. Can all the other surrounding communities say that they use GM vehicles exclusively for their needs? I think not.
As per the ordinance, there is no money from the half-percent increase going into the general fund or the M & amp;R fund, it is intended just for much needed capital improvements.
Almost half of this village still does not have sewers and we will not get grants for such improvements because new jobs are not a factor. This area is rural and residential which greatly limits available monies. We can get loans, but loans need paid back. I cannot in good conscience sentence this village to a 20-year payback for a $6 million (or greater) loan, when there is no guarantee that the monies will be available for payback throughout that 20-year period.
The EPA is breathing down the Trumbull County Health Department's neck to get the septics up to par, and the county is putting that burden on the backs of its residents. This is happening throughout the county.
The only issue I have with the tax increase was to limit the increase for a five-year period. This should enable Lordstown to complete the sewers, also catch up on our road paving and repair our infrastructures. These projects will keep people working. Lordstown is not being unfair, it is not wrong and this increase is necessary.
MARY JANE WILSON, councilwoman
Chairman of the Utility Committee
Village of Lordstown