City Ponders Transfer.

The City Council Budget/Ways and Means Committee met last Monday evening for its rescheduled regular monthly meeting. The primary topic of discussion was the portion of revenue generated by CW&EP that is transferred to the City each year.

Committee Chair Jackie Boyer told those present that any changes in the transfer would not take effect until next fiscal year which begins on July 1.

CW&EP General Manager Bob Williams reported that the current transfer is equal to approximately five and a quarter percent of the $15 million in revenues generated by CW&EP annually. Williams made the point that one of the objectives of the City owning the utility is to benefit the City. The benefit can be realized in two ways according to Williams. There can be a direct benefit of cash to the City and there can be the benefit of low rates that allow citizens to retain more cash and encourage business and industry to locate and stay in the City.

The Committee discussed the possibility of increasing the percentage to six or six and one half percent. The increase would be passed on to customers.

Of course there is another benefit of the City bein’ in control of a utility, it can raise rates, and therefore increase City revenue (taxes), without a vote of the people.

The debate of whether increasin’ utility rates is the best type a tax, as opposed to an increase in sales tax or property tax, or "sin" tax was not discussed at the Committee meetin’ Monday. The main factor in favor of this "revenue enhancement" is the fact that it involves little, if any, explanation to the taxpayers as to its need or justification. There was mention of street repair sufferin’ if there wasn’t more fundin.’ In fact the City has a half cent tax that is earmarked for streets as well as state gas tax funds that have to be spent for streets. Streets are covered. Other capital improvements are the only expenditures that might suffer at this point.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing Services

YOUR AMERICA

By Amy Anderson

William "Pudge" Heffelfinger would be proud. Ever since he took that $500 payment to play for the Allegheny Athletic Association back in 1892 (and in doing so, became the very first professional football player), pigskin chasing has become big business. Could he have imagined the seriousness with which we take the game and its heros today? (And when I say seriousness, I’m not kidding, Pudge.) Could he have imagined a multimillion-dollar facility that receives hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and is devoted solely to the game’s most famous players?

Well, Canton, Ohio is the place that takes football memorializing seriously, and it does a seriously good job of it in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

There is much to see and do at the Hall of Fame, from movies to memorabilia, so include a stop in each of the following areas:

• The GameDay Stadium shows the film "Championship Chase," and is designed to give you a once-in-a-lifetime perspective of the game, combining elements of sound and sight in a sensory overload.

• The Exhibition Rotunda chronicles the first century of pro football.

• The Enshrinees Mementos Room shows all 199 Hall of Fame inductees, and includes personal effects of each.

• The Photo Art section displays the winning photos from the Hall of Fame’s annual photo contest.

• The Super Bowl Room has mementos and effects from Super Bowls past.

• The NFL theater is where you can see a different NFL film playing every hour.

• The Interactive Gaming area, where you can play Tele-Trivia, QB-1 "You Call the Play" and many more games and interactive exhibits.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame, located on George Halas Drive, is open daily. Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for children, or you can pay a special $30 family price that includes two parents and all children under 21. Go online for a coupon worth $3 off admission for all family members. Call (330) 456-8207 or log on to www.profootballhof.com for more details.