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« Politicians 2009

Kathy Miller

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Kathy Miller's Photo

From:

Boardman Township, OH

Office Sought:

Boardman Township Trustee

Offices previously held:

Boardman Township Trustee (2002, 2006)

Kathy's reasons for seeking office:

To provide the tax payers and business owners of the township efficient and effective public services within the limitation of reduced financial resources. To develop a comprehensive township infrastructure plan that includes roads, drainage and storm sewer upgrades and an identification of the township’s critical needs. To strengthen the entire budget and financial records systems so trustees and department heads can administer the business of the township with increased confidence. To develop a capital improvement plan for our facilities and major equipment purchases. To work towards enhanced labor management negotiation that will keep personnel costs similar to peer townships and other local government entities. To work towards a five year financial plan with a cost/benefit analysis to facilitate accurate financial and budget decisions by trustees and department heads. To improve communication with the public through a more interactive website and a system that follows up citizen inquiry. To be a voice for the citizens by asking the tough questions. I have voted 98% of the time with Boardman’s other trustees. I will continue to vote no when I believe it is not fiscally responsible or there has not been enough time spent on the discussion of the issue or enough research done on alternatives. To encourage community involvement in the future of the township. As an example, in November 2006 we had a Community Design Charrette with Kent State’s graduate students to initiate a discussion about planning for the township’s future. While we have to preserve and maintain our residential areas; it is just as important that the commercial and retail areas remain competitive. The design charrette emphasized the need for storm water management, more green space, a community identity and an active citizen and business group that promotes the positive characteristics of living, working, and shopping in Boardman Township.

Kathy's qualifications:

Real estate is a great background for public service. Realtors are use to working 24-7, we are good at customer service, we return phone calls, we know the community, and we are accessible. We believe in homeownership and the rights of property owners. As a Realtor and state licensed real estate appraiser, I know the importance of protecting homeowners with strong, secure and well maintained neighborhoods. I know how important it is to upgrade the infrastructure and make improvements to the drainage and traffic issues that have plagued Boardman for years. Home ownership and the impact real estate values have on the tax base of Boardman Township have never been more critical. The quality of life and quiet enjoyment of our property is important to all of us. As a Home Rule Township the trustees can enact limited resolutions for the benefit of the community. Two of the more important resolutions during my term as a trustee were the Maintenance of Storm Water Retention/Detention Systems and the need to abate Public Nuisances like disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, noise, drug abuse, and health or safety violations that are occurring on the property. The responsible party is the owner or the person that is in control of the property - and that helps with out of state owners. In 2009, the township zoning department has cited over 275 vacant property owners for the failure to maintain the grass or allowing debris to accumulate. It is a long process to do something as simple as cutting high grass and clean up debris. Hopefully the cost, about $100,000 during the past 5 years, will eventually be reimbursed to the township through a lien on the property. As a small business owner, the task of operating the township within a budget is not any different than what every business owner has to do. With the financial challenges we all face, Boardman Township government must be prepared to spend less and accomplish more with the resources available for our citizens and business owners. Tough decisions are never easy.

Where Kathy stands on the issues:

The township has two fundamental problems, it spends more than it takes in and it lacks the sound financial system needed to operate a government with a budget in excess of $17 million per year. The stakes are high - we are now in a position where we are in danger of not being able to deliver the primary services of government to provide for the safety and security of our citizens. The township does not have a formalized capital budget for infrastructure requirements or improvements. Infrastructure projects took a back seat to the demands of personnel costs. With the federal stimulus plan we have the ability to upgrade seven flood and drainage problem areas. The $1,500,000 that is our share of the project cost means we have to budget $106,448 a year for the next twenty years to participate in the stimulus funds.

Kathy's priorities if elected:

Fiscal Accountability - While I was a new trustee in 2002, I had enough business background to know that something wasn’t right about the revenue we were getting and what we were spending. We were using the inheritance taxes to operate the township. It was a philosophy that was adopted by past trustees that I thought was wrong for the township. Since 1989, the township has received over $40,000,000 in inheritance taxes but without short and long term plans for capital improvements the township lost the opportunity to maximize these dollars through federal and state grants. For years, the township lived beyond its means, and now we are in a position where we do not have enough money to pay our expenses. The trustees followed a strategy to continue the spending and assumed that new revenues would be approved by the voters when they were needed. That strategy failed. It has been my goal to seek the unbiased and professional advice of the Office of the State Auditor, to look at the township’s financial situation comprehensively and to formulate a plan for progress. The Performance Audit of 2008 contains the road map for the financial and budgeting systems that are necessary and vital to the ability to complete a strategic plan, and vital to the needs of the township trustees to manage the business of the township. One third of the document is devoted to the need for the township to develop and implement fiscal policies with written directives, budgetary processes with written directives and the necessary systems to keep the public advised of the status of the financial condition of the township. My position over the years has been consistent, as I questioned our budget and spending. One trustee agreed with me on the need for a Performance Audit, and we now have the Auditor of the State of Ohio’s recommendations. The old adage applies, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink -the support of at least one more township trustee is needed to implement the recommendations of the audit and start to put our financial house in order. With the financial challenges we all face, Boardman Township government must be prepared to spend less and accomplish more with the resources available for our citizens and business owners.

Related Campaigns

Boardman Trustees (2009)