Link: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100212/NEWS16/2120322

And the guessing continues.

Councilman George Sarantou said the only good news he received yesterday was that the city would not collect less than the hoped-for $138.7 million in income taxes for 2009.

"A lot depends on the discussions with the bargaining units," he said. "I would much rather be able to control our own fiscal agenda than have the state of Ohio control it."

The Finance Committee Chairman, states, that good news was recieved and the city would not collect less than some amount, but yet, in the same article, the administration is reported to state; "The Bell administration thinks the city won't collect more than $136.1 million in income taxes this year."

Thinks the city won't collect less? As in, this is a positive statement based on firm conclusions? Or just another example of business as usual, because had the previous administration and council pushed harder for an updated method of calculating in real time, what is owed and what has been collected, then and only then, could an administration member or council member make any statements were not guesses, or hopeful wishes for the city.

The statements in the article oppose each other, so what is a citizen to think? People are guessing and really do not know what is what.

And then this gem; "Dave Welch, Toledo's director of public service, said the increased cost for the trash department was unavoidable because of the city's conversion to automated refuse collection."

We, the residents and citizens were told that the changes were needed because the fleet in the solid waste department were neglcted and in dire need of replacement and yet the Manager of Solid Waste, who over saw the decline and neglect is now the Commissioner of Solid Waste.

Unavoidable? Where were the leaders when the plans were being drawn up? Why do people who have presided the gradual decline of this city get promoted, all the while they have overseen the decline and have not reacted to it and did not work harder to stem the decline.

Why do we keep the same people and not bring in fresh faces and fresh minds with fresh ideas?

A CSI committee made up of citizens and business people to propose the same ideas tossed out over the years?

Did that in 1982 and here are right back in the bad shape.