David Mann, Vice Mayor of Cincinnati, returned to his roots in Northern Kentucky to speak with the Florence Rotary on Monday, July 28th. The Vice Mayor touted the many connections of Northern Kentucky to Cincinnati in that at least three mayors, including Mr. Mann, are originally from Kentucky. His father, Henry Mann, served as Mayor of Lakeside Park at the same time David served as Mayor of Cincinnati.
His father instilled the importance of Regionalism in him. The senior Mann served on the executive committee for the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana (OKI) Regional Council of Governments for 25 years. His father believed, “The more we thought of ourselves as one area, the better.”
One of the regional issues Vice Mayor Mann addressed is the Brent Spence Bridge. He stated Cincinnati shares Kentucky’s frustration that when it is our turn for federal money, we are told it is not available. The City of Cincinnati will follow Kentucky’s lead once a consensus is made regarding the issue of tolls versus no tolls.
Compounding the bridge issue is the question, where exactly is the border between Ohio and Kentucky? In a 1980 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court stated the boundary is located at the low water mark on the north side of the river as it existed in 1792, which indicates it is somewhere around Holmes High School. Mr. Mann said, “ I have never given up my search for a map of 1792,” which brought chuckles from the audience.
The most current and pressing regional issue is discussion about raising the sales tax rate for renovation of regional icons Music Hall and Union Terminal. Music Hall is the center point of the redevelopment in the now thriving Over-the-Rhine area. A .25% sales tax increase has been proposed and the City is having a hard time persuading Hamilton County to raise the sales tax rate. Even after this increase, the Hamilton County tax rate will still be much lower than most major cities in Ohio. The tax will allow residents and non-residents who visit these icons to share in their support. The Cincinnati Zoo and many hospitals are supported in a similar way.
Mr. Mann also discussed budgetary changes and challenges in Cincinnati city government. In 1992, the City had 8,400 employees, down now to 5,600, which shows the city is running much leaner. Police and firefighter departments are reduced from 1,300 to 950 employees, while their portion of the budget has risen from 39 to 61%. The Unfunded Pension Liability for the City has risen from $9 million to a staggering $870 million.
Vice Mayor Mann saluted the service of The Rotary Club and other service organizations. “Service organizations do so much of what government can’t do, won’t do or shouldn’t do,” he concluded.
