When I took my seat on Council in January 2024, I have to admit I was on the wrong side of one major issue. That specific issue was the out-of-town worker tax credit. My thoughts back then were that the tax credit was there as "reserves" for the city to tap into if it ran out of money. We held several public meetings and I quickly learned the overwhelming majority of the Citizens of Bucyrus was that they did NOT want their tax credit messed with under any circumstances. The citizens clearly spoke and they want the city to explore any and all options to save taxpayer money. Over the next year I continued to receive emails in my council inbox from all sides Democrats, Republicans, and Independents all saying the same thing: They do NOT want the tax credit touched PERIOD. In early 2025 I pushed the other council members to find a solution trying to gauge what they were going to do regarding future finances. And what did the finance committee do? They went straight towards the out-of-town tax credit. Seeing the upcoming Street Levy Issue 3 income tax renewal on the upcoming ballot I quickly realized what council's plans were. They want to get the levy renewed and then go after the credit.
I can't stand by in good conscious and let the out-of-town workers be blind-sided on this issue. They deserve to know before they go cast their ballots on May 6th what direction the council is moving towards. Why should they have to be the only group that has to pay for this Council and Administration's poor handling of taxpayer funds? This is why I started the "Just Say No Bucyrus PAC." That’s what all the yellow yard signs are around the city that say “NO” on them. The purpose of the PAC is to protect the out-of-town workers by voting NO on the Issue 3 half percent income tax so they don't get locked into it for 6 years. If council still thinks they need a street levy they can re-introduce it for a shorter suggested 2 years instead. If the levy is brought back, it could be re-worded to allow for sidewalk and city owned parking lot resurfacing which was always an issue that the original levy could not pay for.
Even if you are not an out-of-town worker you should be outraged over the $4.25 pay raises that Council and Administration handed out back on December 17th. Those city employees were making an honest wage in Crawford County BEFORE that pay raise. They were already making more than ODOT and Crawford County employees in the area before that raise. Council and the Administration knew we were in a budget deficit and handed those raises out irresponsibly. It’s time for the City to start trimming the fat. Let’s start talking about ways to be more efficient and effective with the taxpayer’s dime. Just because something was done the same way for the last 30-40 years doesn't mean it’s the right way.
-Sincerely
Kurt Fankhauser
