Auditor's site shows what levies will cost

Hamilton County property owners can go online to see exactly how much levies on the March 2 ballot would cost them.

County Auditor Dusty Rhodes has added the calculations to his Web site, www.hamiltoncountyauditor.org. Homeowners can look up their property using their address or name and click on the "levy info" link to see their bill for proposed tax levies.

What it doesn't show is whether those levies would increase or decrease the overall tax bill.

For instance, the St. Bernard/Elmwood Place school levy renewal would keep the current bill of about $250 a year on a $100,000 home, while Madeira schools' proposed bond issue would cost an extra $202 on a $100,000 home.

Crowley: Enough of managed competition

DOWNTOWN - The debate over privatization of city services began anew Wednesday as Councilman David Crowley introduced a motion to scrap the city's two-year experiment in "managed competition."

Crowley's resolution comes the week after Mayor Charlie Luken announced in his State of the City Address that he had a change of heart on the issue. Luken and Crowley say the city should seek to make services more efficient, but not at the expense of city workers losing their jobs.

But council conservatives say competition is the only way to save money.

"It seems like an awful lot of money to spend $100,000 on consultants, and then walk away from the program as soon as it was starting to work," said Councilman Pat DeWine.

The Crowley resolution now goes to the Finance Committee.

Chamber holds design contest

LOVELAND - The Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce is holding a contest to design the cover and table of contents for next year's directory.

Local artists have until April 8 to submit their work in high-resolution digital format. Entry forms and contest rules are available at the chamber offices, 510 W. Loveland Ave., or by calling 683-1544.

The winner will receive credit in the 2005 directory, including a picture.