Dave Schulz's proposal on Toledo Police...

Well, if you read the article that is discussed below from today's Toledo Blade you'll see this one small paragraph:

In the same race, endorsed Republican David Schulz yesterday called for boosting Toledo police staffing, possibly through a tax on sports and entertainment events.

The media release from the Dave Schulz for Toledo City Council campaign from yesterday provides more information:

Schulz calls for reaching goal of 2.5 officers per 1,000 inhabitants

The city of Toledo police staffing falls far behind the national average for cities our size and Dave Schulz will make improving our ratio his top priority on city council.

According to the FBI, the national average for cities our size is 3.5 officers per 1,000 inhabitants. While this ratio would be hard to achieve and may not be practical or necessary, the goal of reaching 2.5 officers per 1,000 inhabitants must be. In fact, we trail many other major cities in Ohio in this statistic.


Schulz agrees that we should keep pace with impending retirements on the force. The administration has proposed plans to do this with the police class of 20 in early 2007. This will only slightly increase our current manpower.

As I have walked door to door and attended block watch meetings, the common refrain I hear is “we need more police” and that the response time for calls other than Priority One must improve. I have heard many stories where the homeowner, many miles away arrives to their home that was burglarized before the officers.

It is the responsibility of elected officials to engage the public in prioritizing government spending. Schulz suggests ways to pay for the increased police classes:

Adjusting some of the CIP dollars freed up during the November 2004 income tax renewal, currently approximately 4.75 million could be used for that purpose. Council still has the discretion under law to use that money for the general fund. In 2004, there was $8.75 million freed up by the new formula passed by voters.

A fundamental restructuring of our government to include serious consideration of eliminating departments, mid-level management and outsourcing and privatization

Possibly considering an admissions tax on sporting and entertainment events and other applicable venues. Many policemen are used to police these events and the city should be compensated.

CIP dollars must be used for only the most important things, such as, road resurfacing, economic development projects, safety equipment. Bike paths and decorative lighting must take a back seat to these other areas.

Schulz has also been hearing that the Finkbeiner administration looks to the courts and safety services to find savings as they have the big numbers in the budget. Certainly, every area of the city needs to be challenged to provide services more efficiently but so many times this year, the administration and a compliant city council have rubber stamped plans for bike paths, lighting, etc. that add up to big numbers when totaled up.

Schulz says, “The city sorely needs someone on council with private sector business experience to deal with these tough decisions facing the city. All of my opponents lack this experience.”

City council has only three people with any substantial and current business experience.