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League of Women Voters of Kent
e-VOTER
In This Issue
December Brunch
Regionalism Presentation
Revenue Sharing and Land-Use Planning
New Study on Regionalism?
LWV Letters Help Educate
Program Planning
Join the League
Volunteer Opportunities
November 2009 Election Results
Catch Up on League Reading
Up-to-Date with LWV Ohio
Up-to-Date with LWV US
Save the Date
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List
Welcome to the November 2009 issue of the Kent League of Women Voters' e-newsletter. Look for it between publication of our three-times-a-year hardcopy newsletter. We hope you find it informative.
LWVK Annual December Brunch to Feature Local Expert on Regionalism 
 
Kent League members will gather for their traditional holiday brunch on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, at The Rusty Nail restaurant in Twin Lakes. The event startsholiday trees at 9:30 a.m. To sign up, click here. The cost is $18. Please make your check payable to League of Women Voters of Kent, and send it to Jan Rusnack, 1440 Loop Road, Kent, OH 44240. If you have questions, call Jan at 330-678-1261. Members are encouraged to bring guests to an enjoyable event that always provides new insights. 
 
The speaker will be the husband of board member Chris Schjeldahl, Don Schjeldahl, who is vice president and director of Renewable Energy Strategies for the Austin Company in Cleveland. His talk is titled "The Role of Regionalism in Renewing the Economy."  For more about the Austin Company, click here
 
We will also honor the retiring directors of the Portage County Board of Elections, Glenda Enders and Lois Enlow, currently deputy director, and their successors Linda Marcial, the new director, and Faith Lyons, the deputy director designee.
 
Schjeldahl's presentation follows a wonderful talk on Nov. 12 by Kerry Macomber, senior research assistant at the Center for Public Administration and Public Policy at Kent State University. See the article just below for more information about Kerry's discussion with League members.
 
KerryLWVK Hears About Regionalism from KSU Researcher  
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Regionalism among 16 counties could become a reality in Northeast Ohio in the next few years. The 16 counties are Portage, Summit, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake, Ashtabula, Geauga, Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Stark, Carroll, Wayne, Medina, Ashland and Richland. The initiative is one of the largest in the country.
 
Speaker Kerry Macomber of the Kent State University Center for Public Administration and Public Policy  presented dozens of ways that the region is affected by regionalism, such as through the sharing of resources and joint transportation planning. Members agreed it is a complicated topic and one that the League should take time to review.
 
The northeast Ohio regionalism initiative is called Cleveland +. Several Kent League members who have been studying the development of the initiative said that communities and community organizations need to watch the progress of the initiative, as it may be introduced as legislation that will bypass a public vote.
 
Of concern is the mechanism that will be established by legislation to share revenue among the counties, cities, villages and townships in the designated region.
 
Portage County has one representative involved with the initiative, County Commissioner Chuck Keiper, who also represents AMATS (the regional transportation group). Our members who have attended recent meetings have asked whether city managers or economic development representatives are included in the discussions and/or how we the public will know what may be in this large, amorphous regionalism plan.
 
Other organizations also are having an impact on the move to regionalize, including the Fund for Our Economic Future. The Fund collaborates with others in the region to improve competitiveness in four priority areas: business growth and attraction, talent development, growth through racial and economic  inclusion, and government collaboration and efficiency.
 
Macomber's presentation characterized regionalism as reflecting how Northeastern Ohioans live and work and can be seen in labor markets, community patterns, economic opportunities and natural assets. There are many components to regionalism: government, private sector, public sector, nonprofit sector and the environment. These components are both independent and interrelated. Many nonprofits in Northeast Ohio have regionalized their operations to survive, including Mobile Meals, the American Red Cross and United Way.
 
Governments collaborate regionally for three reasons: economic development, cost savings and improved services. Regionalism attracts business through economic development, infrastructure improvements (such as transportation planning and water and sewer districts) and a workforce that is educated and trained and that locates to the region because of quality of life attractions. An example of how collaboration works in the public sector is the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy. It involves eight Great Lakes states that will share $475 million in the next year to restore and protect the Great Lakes. A total of 1,100 people were involved across state governments and organizations, including the Ohio Environmental Council, Healing Our Waters and the National Wildlife Federation.
 
Macomber offered much information, including the meaning of the dozens of acronyms related to regional plans. She represents the Center for Public Administration and Public Policy, based at Kent State, that trains area officials and has hosted meetings on regional planning.
 
Members suggested that Kent League contact the League of Women Voters of Ohio to see if the LWVO has a lobbyist on the subject and if other Leagues are monitoring the issue. The Kent League also plans to ask state Rep. Kathleen Chandler, D-Kent, about the issue.
 
To see Macomber's Regional Acronym Directory, click here.
 
To review the LWV Cuyahoga County Area position on regionalism, click here.
 
With New Positions, Some Northeast Ohio Leagues Will Soon Weigh in on Regional Tax-Base Revenue Sharing and Land-Use Planning 
 
by Lynda Mayer, LWV Cuyahoga Area Regionalism Committee 
The League of Women Voters Cuyahoga Area completed in early 2009 a two-year study of regionalism, which was presented at the League of Women Voters of Ohio's Convention and should be immediately applicable in Northeast Ohio for Leagues that choose to concur. Shaker Heights and Cleveland Area Leagues already have done so. The new positions cited below place Leagues firmly in the vanguard of organizations and political entities working to create a synergy for helping fragmented local governments in Northeast Ohio begin to pull together to boost economic development and achieve smart growth for the region.  
 
Latest developments
The Northeast Ohio Mayors and City Managers' Association will soon be rolling out its new proposals for 16-county new growth revenue sharing and regional land-use planning. Those Leagues that have adopted the new regionalism positions will be able to evaluate the tax base revenue-sharing proposals in order to determine whether the League will recommend support for regionalism from the city councils within the 16-county area. LWVO's positions should be sufficient for an evaluation of the regional land-use proposal.
 
LWV Cuyahoga Area's joint Regionalism Committee (members include LWV Cuyahoga Area, LWV Cleveland Area, LWV Shaker Heights) has developed an illustrated program to present to any Northeast Ohio League that invites the Cuyahoga Area League to do so for their members as they consider concurring with the new positions and advocating for them on their home turf.
 
Brief Descripts of Proposals
Here are thumbnail descriptions of  both Mayors' and Managers' measures:

New Growth Revenue Sharing. Participating municipalities and townships across Northeast Ohio will contribute perhaps 40 percent of any new tax base they attract to a multicounty (up to 16) pool, which will be funneled to other communities and projects to ease fiscal disparity and support regional growth. It is likely that perhaps 20 percent of new income tax capacity also would be contributed.  
 
Regional Land-Use Planning. A regional smart-growth plan is being written by several county and metropolitan planning organizations. Adherence to these principles will be a condition of any community's receiving funds from the revenue-sharing pool. The plan sets a regional land-use strategy and adds incentives and teeth to encourage widespread compliance.  
 
The latest on both of these measures and much more can be read at the Northeast Ohio Regional Prosperity Initiative Web site.
 
Shared Regionalism Positions
The following are the shared regionalism positions of three of the 16 Northeast Ohio Leagues: 
 
Regional Tax-Base Revenue Sharing (Macro-Regionalism in Northeast Ohio). Support for regional tax-base revenue sharing as a constructive form of intergovernmental cooperation for the mutual benefit of participating communities. Such a program should advance smart growth, economic development and fiscal equity within the target area; impact positively upon infrastructure, housing, education, recreation, inclusion and/or shared public facilities; set standards for finance, staffing and administration that are consistent, accountable, transparent and efficient; pool contributions from an agreed portion of new growth in local commercial and industrial tax revenue sources; distribute that revenue pool among participating communities to further fiscal equity across the area; honor local sovereignty and school funding resources; and be flexible and grow with time. Formulas for the collection and allocation of tax revenue should be determined by the participating communities and reviewed periodically.
 
Intergovernmental Collaboration (Micro-Regionalism at the Local Level). Support for voluntary intergovernmental, collaborative agreements that reduce costs, foster transparency and accountability, improve efficiencies, and maintain service standards. Such agreements are appropriate at local, county, metropolitan, multiple-county or regional levels; should be practical and of manageable size and scope; and should demonstrate the interconnectedness of all neighboring communities.
 
If local Northeast Ohio Leagues want to schedule a concurrence meeting with visiting Regionalism Committee presenters or receive a 10-page summary of the League's study, contact Lynda Mayer or Kathy Kosiorek

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Down the Road to a New Study?
LWVK Hears Overview of Regionalism 
 
Reigionalism is a complex topic, and its study would certainly challenge the League's membership. Now the question for the Kent League is: shall we adopt a regionalism study at the Program Planning meeting set for Jan. 23, 2010?   
 
See the preceding articles in this e-newsletter for more information on regionalism in Northeast Ohio. 
Have a comment about a possible study? Want to be part of a study committee on regionalism? Contact Vice President Jane Rose. To learn more about League studies, click here.
 
A Reason to Celebrate                         
The League's Nov. 12 meeting at The Tannery of Kent State University in downtown Kent's Acorn AlleyPat Sattler ended with a special celebration of Pat Sattler's (at right) milestone birthday. (We didn't say which milestone, Pat!)The party festivities were preceded by a presentation on regionalism by Kerry Macomber, senior research assistant at the Center for Public Administration and Public Policy at Kent State University.  
 
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LWV Letters Help Educate 
 
Letters to the editor from Kent LWV, urging support of Issue 4, the Portage County Child Welfare Levy that was on the November ballot, brought sincere appreciation from the staff and workers of the Portage County Department of Job and Family Services and from Portage County Children Services, an agency of JFS. They noted that the League is a force in educating the public--we do make a difference!
 
Ruth Carnes, chair of the levy committee wrote, "Your letter of support provided Portage County residents with educational information that made it clear why renewing Issue 4 was so important."

Anita Herington, director of the Portage County Department of Jobs and Family Services added, "your support and endorsement will carry much weight Nov. 3 due to the high regard the LWV holds in the county."

For information about Portage County Children Services, click here.
 
planningProgram Planning: Insight Into LWVK's Inner Workings . . . Save the Date - Jan. 23, 2010 
 
What is program planning? It's an event that occurs every January when League members look at program positions to review for their relevancy. All of the League's local position statements are reviewed annually. On alternating years, either state or national issues also are reviewed to determine if they still serve the purpose for which they were developed. In 2010, national position statements will be reviewed. Members will come together, league by league, across the country early next year to comment and measure the effectiveness of their local positions and those at the national level. They will decide what can be retained and what needs to be updated or dropped. New studies can be added at all levels. Local positions and new studies or updates are then adopted at the Kent League's Annual Meeting on June 5, 2010. At the national level, Convention is set for June 11-15 in Atlanta. 
 
Want to know how a study gets to be a position? Click here
 
Join the League of Women Voters Today! 
 
Click here here for a membership form.
  
Looking for a Way to Volunteer with the League? 
 
You're just a click away from communicating with a member who is working on a project:
 
Program Planning Committee - Jane Rose
 
Voter Service - Christine C. Bhargava
 
Finance Committee - Jackie Waltz

Kent City Finances Study Update - Melissa Long

Regionalism in NE Ohio - Jane Rose

Voting on Campus - Barb Hipsman Springer  

Membership - Chris Schjeldahl

Elected Officials Reception - Terrie Nielsen
 
Results of November 2009 Election 
 
Click here here for complete results of the November 2009 election in Portage County.
  
Catch Up on Your League Reading . . . Links to National, State, Local Voters  
Stay Up-to-Date with LWV Ohio  
 
Click here
for stories on Election Wait-Time Report
. . . League Encourages Full Census Count . . . League Settles Historic Lawsuit . . . Redistricting Contest Winners 
 
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Stay Up-to-Date with LWV US  
 
Click here
for releases and letters on Congressional Ethics report . . . Health Care for America Act
. . . repealing the Clean Air Act.  
  
Save the Date . . .  
 
December 5
Our annual Holiday Brunch is set for Saturday, Dec. 5, 9:30 a.m. at The Rusty Nail in Twin Lakes. For information, call Jan at 330-678-1261. To sign up, click here.
 
January 23, 2010
Program Planning, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County, 155 E. Main St., Kent, OH 44240. To learn more about program planning, click here.
 
February 5, 2010
Elected Officials Event, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., location to be announced. Chairperson or co-chairpersons needed! A great way to get to know your fellow Leaguers and local elected officials! E-mail Terrie, or call her at 330-274-0864.
 
We hope you will join us for our December holiday brunch. It is a special time to share the spirit of the season and look back over the past year ofholiday tree accomplishments. We also take a moment to appreciate our league and its members. Thank you for your support! It is the best gift we could ask for! 
 
Sincerely,
Terrie Nielsen, President
League of Women Voters of Kent