Dorrian Clobbers Todd In Tax Levy Debate

Today on WOSU’s Open Line Columbus Auditor Hugh Dorrian and defeated candidate for mayor Bill Todd debated the proposed .5 percent tax increase. Once again Todd had no specific proposals to solve the budget crisis, he only had criticism for the income tax.

In fact, he kept using examples of the state budget crisis and quoted Strickland at one point. He said Strickland said you do not raise taxes during a recession. Dorrian patiently explained that Strickland has to worry about Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Dayton and other cities as well. They are not Columbus which continues to grow and has the highest bond rating of any large city in the nation.

Todd suggested more furlough days for city workers and taking away their retirement pension. He also said that we are taxing the poor and giving the money to the “fat cats” downtown.

I do have a vested interest in the passage of the levy. However, I assure you my support of the levy is based on my social work background and my desire for those less fortunate to receive the help they need. This is a progressive tax, if you don’t make much, you don’t pay much. If I thought for one minute this levy would hurt the poor, I would be against it.

Todd say’s let’s make city workers give back additional money by taking more unpaid days off and let’s cut their pension. We all know public sector jobs pay less than the private sector. How are you going to attract bright well educated city workers if you make the work less attractive? If you think we are taxing the poor to help the fat cats. Then let’s just tax the fat cats. Like republican fat cat Bill Todd.

Dorrian has been an auditor for five city mayor’s of both parties and is so respected the republican’s are not running anybody against him this election. Todd is a lawyer who was beaten badly in the mayor’s race and belongs to a party that was in power during the creation of this recession. Who would you take your financial advice from?

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