Stimulating the Economy: County Invests in Infrastructure, Development

Today, we used an annual allocation of federal dollars to prioritize a package of investments and programs that will help provide a boost to the local economy.

As part of our 2009 Community Development Grant allocation, we:

1. Committed $100,000 to continue providing counseling to prevent foreclosures within the County—which over the last two years has prevented more than 800 foreclosures.

2. Committed $192,000 to spend on economic development and site redevelopment.

3. Committed more than $1,800,000 to infrastructure, residential, and commercial improvement projects in 21 communities, including:

• Street rehabilitation and improvements: $800,000 (Addyston, Blue Ash, Cheviot, Crosby Township, Delhi, Harrison, Lincoln Heights, Lockland, Norwood)
• Housing investments/upgrades: $320,000 (Cleves, Colerain Township, Golf Manor, Sharonville, Springdale, Wyoming)
• Business district/commercial development and improvement: $260,000 (Loveland, Mt. Healthy, North College Hill)

With these investments, we have prioritized near-term relief from the ongoing housing crisis, as well as infrastructure and economic investments that will both improve our communities and create jobs.

My Two Cents: Seat Roland Burris

Not a lot to say here, but as contemptible (and worse) as Gov. Blagojevich's behavior has been, the law is the law.

Seat Mr. Burris, and move on.

Take the Survey: Your Ideas on Becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community

As I announced several months ago, we are working with the City to create a roadmap of how to be as bicycle friendly a community as possible.

A critical part of the process is to hear from you. If you ride a bike in any way, or have interest in doing so, or simply want to give your input, please take a couple minutes to complete the survey. This input, and your ideas and insights, will help shape the agenda we ultimately set.

UPDATE: After just one day, we have more than 330 responses! I can't tell you how helpful this input will be.

Connect To Success Off and Running

Several months ago, a program urged by myself and Commissioner Portune kicked off, and is now underway. It's called Connect To Success, and it helps identify school dropouts and connect them to education and workplace opportunities.

Over the holidays, Channel 9 aired a great story describing why Connect to Success is so important, and talking to young people about the difference it's already making for them. The story also touches on the next phase of this work, which will be expanding to more and more young people in 2009.

The money for this work all comes from the federal government (Workforce Investment Act dollars), and the Workforce Investment Board oversees the implementation of these important initiatives.

Thanks to all those who are launching this important new effort. And more to come in 2009 as we build on this good first step.

Collecting Delinquent Taxes

Channel 9 did a good story today on the amount of delinquent property taxes that are out there. At $63 million, there are clearly far too many property owners and businesses not paying as they should.

Last year, we worked with Treasurer Goering (who is responsible for tax collection) on implementing, for the first time, a tax lien sale for delinquent taxes, which brought in about $20 million. Most of that revenue came because the threat of selling the tax lien to a private collector (who charges a higher interest rate) convinced many to pay up before the sale took place. Then we sold the liens on the remaining parcels for $4 million. These revenues will ultimately be distributed among all the jurisdictions--local jurisdictions, levies, schools, and the County--that receive property tax proceeds.

This year, we will do the same thing--and our goal will be to collect even more of these delinquent taxes. The fact that we followed through on one sale already should provide a lot more motivation for people to pay the taxes they owe prior to the next lien sale.

100,000 Pounds of Trash: A Good Start To Cleaning Our County

In the middle of last year, we were excited to announce a partnership to clean up the streets and business districts of communities across Hamilton County--using inmate details from the Justice Center. Seventeen communities see a clean-up detail about every two weeks.

I received a report in December which I neglected to post due to all the budget discussions, and it's good news indeed.

In just its first quarter of operation, the detail collected 100,650 pounds of litter (!), and cleaned 343 miles of County streets. Thirty warning letters were sent to property owners whose properties were out of compliance with housing and health laws. And I have personally heard from community leaders about what a difference this work is making.

Thanks to Keep Cincinnati Beautiful for spearheading this effort. I'll post more results as we get them.

Welcome Commissioner Hartmann

Tomorrow, we welcome former Clerk of Courts Greg Hartmann as our third County Commissioner, replacing Pat DeWine.

I first met Greg before either of us was in political office, and we have gotten along very well ever since. Over the past two years (while he served as clerk), he and I worked closely together on a number of issues--from encouraging Hamilton County residents to be foster parents through our EveryDay Heroes campaign, to fighting the foreclosure crisis we've experienced the past two years.

I was also pleased to see, and agree with, Greg's campaign message of putting partisanship aside, and working together on our top priorities of economic and job growth and public safety.

We have a lot of work to do in 2009, and I greatly look forward to partnering with Commissioner Hartmann (and, of course, Commissioner Portune) to get the job done.