Under the leadership of City Council, our outstanding city staff and the advice and counsel of our 35-member citizen Budget Review Committee, we met the challenges to our financial stability. Our revenues exceeded our expenses in 2021 and we anticipate this will also occur in 2022.
This year, we plan no increase in income tax, property tax or refuse, water, sanitary sewer, or stormwater fees. In fact, our water rates are now the second lowest of any jurisdiction in the region.
We thank our citizens for their continued confidence in our city leaders as they passed our property tax renewal levy last November by a 76% to 24% margin. This levy provides about $468,000 annually for city services. And, as you know, only 8% of your property taxes go for city services. The rest goes to Oakwood Schools, Montgomery County agencies and Wright Library.
As I begin my 19th year on Oakwood City Council and my 13th year as your Mayor, I am also honored to serve with my fellow members of Council. Steve Byington begins his 15th year as a member of Oakwood City Council and his 13th year as our Vice Mayor. I congratulate Leigh Turben on her election last year and look forward to serving with her as she begins her 2nd year on Oakwood City Council. I also congratulate Council members Rob Stephens and Anne Hilton on their re-elections last November as they both begin their 13th year on City Council.
This Council, like those that preceded it, operates in a collegial style and everyone believes in doing the right thing for the citizens of Oakwood. We listen to one another, no one has hidden agendas, and we believe in community service.
When I joined City Council in 2003, it was my belief that Oakwood was well governed, well managed and financially strong. I still hold that belief and will continue this tradition. With the help of City Council, city staff and the citizens of Oakwood, we will continue to be well governed, well managed and financially strong.
Thank you again for the opportunity to serve you.
Citizen Committee Appointments – Mayor Duncan presented the reappointments of Harrison Gowdy to the Planning Commission and Jan Scheid to the Tax/Water & Sewer/Assembly Appeals Board. He noted that the Planning Commission had its first meeting of 2022 last week on February 2. Mrs. Gowdy’s reappointment to the Planning Commission will also ratify her actions at the February 2 Planning Commission meeting.
It was moved by Mayor Duncan and seconded by Mrs. Hilton that the aforementioned appointments be confirmed. Upon a viva voce vote on the question of the motion, same passed unanimously and it was so ordered.
Captain Promotion – Mayor Duncan welcomed Lieutenant Mike Tanner and his family. He then administered the Oath of Office. Chief Hill reviewed the highlights of Captain Tanner’s career and shared that he will serve as the Operations Captain. Captain Tanner’s wife pinned the captain bars onto his uniform.
Captain Tanner recognized his family, the Public Safety Command Staff and the entire Public Safety Department by name. He shared that past few years have been tough for everyone in the public safety profession, in addition to the extra challenges that the Oakwood Public Safety Department faced. He thanked everyone in the Public Safety Department and said that he looks forward to working with them in 2022.
Mayor Duncan said that Oakwood has the finest group of Public Safety Officers.
VISITORS
Montgomery County Board of Elections Director Jeff Rezabek – Mr. Rezabek provided an update on the redistricting of Montgomery County precincts and polling locations.
Mr. Rezabek shared that the Ohio Supreme Court once again ruled the state’s latest maps for redistricting unconstitutional. The Montgomery County Board of Elections reviewed and rebalanced precinct lines based on population shifts identified by the 2020 Census. He explained that the maximum number of voters permitted per precinct is 1,400. The city of Oakwood’s