By Steve Kemme
Enquirer staff writer

Cindy Hill spends time on her porch in Norwood with grandson Dylew Clemmons, 22 months. Hill is worried she'll lose her job as a police dispatcher if the levy fails. The Enquirer/ERNEST COLEMAN

NORWOOD - The large white sign with red hand-written letters hanging on Ken and Peggy Henges' house left no doubt where they stand on the whopping 14-mill levy proposal on Tuesday's special election ballot.

The sign said: "Vote No Aug. 3rd; No More Taxes."

Ken Henges, 46, a lifelong Norwood resident who lives in one of the city's more affluent sections, doesn't mind elaborating on the sign's message.

"I just don't want to pay the extra $1,000 a year in property taxes the levy would make me pay," he said, standing in front of his house. "That's a lot of money for no new services. It's too much money."

The five-year, 14-mill levy has stirred angry opposition in all parts of the city, from lifelong and newer residents. They don't doubt Norwood is mired in a financial crisis. But many say they can't afford such a big tax increase and don't feel confident the city would spend wisely the $5.2 million a year the levy would generate.

BY THE NUMBERS

Population: 21,675 Median household income: $32,223 Median value of single-family, owner-occupied home: $86,500 Residents over 25 with a bachelor's degree or higher: 1,954 or 14% Renter-occupied housing units: 4,499 or 48.5% Percentage of residents who moved into their houses before 1980: 20.6% Source: 2000 U.S. Census Norwood's annual general fund expenditures 2003 $16,877,012 2002 $15,496,902 2001 $15,096,858 2000 $13,851,149 1999 $14,105,235 1998 $12,476,706 1997 $12,175,504 Source: Norwood

"They haven't proven to me that they're managing their money right. Why should I give them more?" said Kim Hill-Geiser, who lives with her husband, William, and their three children in a large house on Kenilworth Avenue.

Norwood officials admit that passing the levy is a long shot. But they believe they had no choice but to go for 14 mills.

Norwood is expected to have a $2.6 million deficit at the end of this year. With no change in revenue or spending, that hole will grow over five years to a crater-size $25 million.

"We could have asked for less," said Councilman Joe Sanker, chairman of the Finance Committee. "But we'd be right back in the same situation next year."

Despite record-high city tax revenue spurred by commercial and office developments the past 15 years, Norwood might not be able to meet its next $400,000 payroll on Aug. 13.

The city met its twice-a-month payroll last Friday with only $15,000 to spare.

"When are we going to run out of money? Brother, it's right now," said Norwood Treasurer Tim Molony, who has led the levy campaign.

Although the city has reduced expenses in the past two years, it overspent the previous eight to 10 years.

The city granted large salary increases and generous health benefits to employees in union-negotiated contracts, borrowed millions for street improvements and other projects and underestimated how long it would take to launch new, major business developments.

The city's financial missteps have caused some residents to turn their backs on the cries for help.

"Somebody misspent our money, and they want to put it on the backs of the taxpayers," said Robert Bishop.

Said Drex Helton, who lives near Bishop: "I just feel they could do better with the money they already have."

Holly Adams, 27, a lifelong Norwood resident who is disabled, said any increase in property taxes would be passed on to her and her mother, Marilyn Stropes, by their landlord.

"I think the levy is needed," Adams said. "But a lot of people can't afford their property taxes now. It would raise a lot of people's rent."

Seven years ago, Susan Knox moved from a condo in Hyde Park to a large house in Norwood.

"I'm not seeing a plan for putting our city on a course of fiscal responsibility," said Knox, a saleswoman who is secretary of Citizens for a Better Norwood, a group that's fighting the levy.

Cindy Hill, 61, a Norwood police dispatcher, worries that a levy defeat could cause her to lose her job.

"You never know what they're going to have to cut," she said, sitting on her porch with her 22-month-old grandson.

If the levy passes, the annual taxes on a $100,000 house would increase from $1,500 to $1,912. To many residents of Norwood, where the median income is about $32,000, an annual tax increase between $350 and $400 would be more than half of one week's pay.

Ivars and Dzidra Bolgzds are on a fixed income.

"We are retired and can't afford to pay any more," said 82-year-old Ivars Bolgzds, who has lived in Norwood for 45 years.

"What they're doing to us is about to kill me," said Janet Runion, 65, a longtime resident. "Ten years ago, my taxes were about $800 over six months. Now they're about $1,200."

If the levy fails, there's a great likelihood that before the end of this year, the state would declare Norwood in fiscal emergency.

A commission composed of officials of Norwood and the Ohio Auditor's Office would develop a two-year plan to pull the city out of the red. After City Council and a Hamilton County Common Pleas judge approved the plan, Norwood would be obligated to live by it.

"The plan could call for a new tax levy, future cutbacks, outsourcing of services or major slashes in the police and fire departments - whatever they determine we need to do," Molony said.

On Tuesday, Norwood voters will have their say.

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com