Illegal taxes by the City of Toledo government

• refuse fee
• traffic enforcement camera fines

"It's taxation without representation."

Nothing new for this town.

In the spring of 2007, Toledo city council supported an illegal tax on Toledoans. It was a 7-5 vote. Five democrats voted against the illegal tax. All four republicans on council voted for the illegal tax. Allegedly, the republicans made some kind of deal with then-mayor Czarty.

Technically, I'm misleading the truth because here's the rub. Council did not vote specifically on this illegal tax. The illegal tax was not a separate resolution.

With the 7-5 vote, council approved the 2007 budget, which contained this illegal tax. Voting for the budget meant supporting the illegal tax, in my opinion.

The city's code-name for this illegal tax was "refuse fee." This tax was placed on our water bill, and the money went to the general fund.

This illegal tax was suppose to last only for one year, but it didn't. According to republican clowncilman and alleged financial guru, George Sarantou, the city became too dependent upon the revenue.

Mar 31, 2007 Blade story

The trash fee, which is expected to raise $2.9 million in 2007, expires on April 30, 2008.

Hah! Expire a tax?

Eventually, this illegal tax was suppose to drop to zero for those who recycled, but it didn't.

The illegal tax cost less for those who recycled. This tax difference was to encourage more recycling in order to extend the life of our landfill.

The result: More people did recycle. And because too many people recycled, the city could not honor its promise to eliminate the tax.

My fellow rubes, this illegal tax was never about recycling and helping the landfill. It was always about taking more money. Illegally.

In February 2008, Karen Shanahan sued Toledo over this illegal tax.

In effect, the very character and nature of the refuse fee amounts to a property tax. Furthermore, the refuse fee was created by administrative fiat. And, at no point was it approved by City Council or the voters of the City of Toledo. Viewed broadly, the purpose of this case is to establish that the City of Toledo has taxed the property owners outside of its own limitations. Moreover, the City of Toledo has taxed the property owners outside of the limitations set forth in Ohio's Constitution and the statutes of the State of Ohio.

Suing the city over an illegal tax, how do you think that turned out?

And now the city threatens to sue citizens with unpaid traffic enforcement camera fines.

It's good to be the king.

City government uses altruistic reasons as schemes to scam us. Everyone knows that the traffic enforcement cameras are about taking money. It's not about safety.

If Toledo government truly cared about safety, then they would ensure that our roads were in good condition. Many of our roadways are in such wretched condition, that drivers are swerving and braking hard to avoid craters.