*Note: This is reader-submitted. Opinions and letters to the editor can be sent to news@crawfordcountynow.com
1 May 2025
Letter to the Editor Crawford County Now
403 East Rensselaer Street Bucyrus, Ohio 44820
Dear Editor,
Bucyrus Street Levy
This May 6 ballot issue will decide whether or not the citizens of this community want to keep this 6 year funded issue to be continued. There are many pro’s and con’s on this issue, but it will be left up to the voters. I do see both sides of this, but I don’t understand why our government body doesn’t want the truth to be known. Six years is a very long time for any ballot issue. Why so long on this levy? The City of Bucyrus receives gasoline tax and license fees from the state, totaling over $750,000 in revenue per year. The city has purchased vehicles and equipment with the street levy fund, but it is not being used to the fullest capacity. A citizen came to council and voiced their concerns that the streets are not being done properly. Mainly about curbs and gutters not being installed on streets. That the berm material is being washed away when it rains, plus the fact that the city has to clean out of the sewers. This is definitely costing the city more money in the long run. Why is the city not fixing our streets, without coming back and having to redo them again? How about fixing them the right way, with curbs, gutters and paving.
Then you have the tax credit and the possibility of raising the income tax within the city. Several members of council have come out stating this matter in public meetings. Yet, the majority of them voted to give $4.25 per hour raises to employees in that union. No one really knew if that money was there are not. The City Auditor stated that it was in there, but the budget was $300,000 in the red. Even the water fund was $500,000 (according to the State) in the red at that same time. The city auditor can’t even give straight answers on the financial state of our city. Who can we really trust on all of the problems that are currently facing the City of Bucyrus?
Currently the city has a population of about 12,000, a third is under 18 years old, a third is over 60 years old and everyone else is the other third. The old population pays very little to no income tax at all. They are retired and some living on fixed incomes. Yes, these people worked and paid their taxes while working. I am not against that at all and fully understand this matter with them. Now, you only have about 4,000 people paying income tax to fund the street levy. That is a big burden to put on a small amount of our population. With most of them (1,700) working out of town for employment. These individuals also have to pay income taxes in the communities of employment. Along with everythings that they have to pay for (property taxes, water, sewer, trash, elect and gas bills, food, ins.,) Is there a simple answer to this issue? I believe that it could be worked out, but the current council doesn’t want to discuss this during committee meetings. They just want to wait and see what happens with the levy. I would like to see a street levy for two years, plus add funding for sidewalks within the language. This could help take some burden off property owners to fix the sidewalks within our city.
Then we could have great streets and sidewalks in the City of Bucyrus. Voting on this issue is your choice, and only your choice.
Respectfully submitted, Greg White
1125 Hillcrest Drive
Bucyrus, Ohio 44820