Posted June 23, 200519 yr Lesson? That all of the heavy retail and office mega-projects in the world can't always save you. From the 6/23/05 Enquirer: City plans to ease its debt Norwood cuts, higher taxes all considered By Steve Kemme Enquirer staff writer NORWOOD - As Norwood's budget deficit continues to grow, city officials are working on a financial recovery plan that might include declaring bankruptcy, raising taxes or making drastic cuts in services. "We need to investigate all possibilities," Norwood Treasurer Tim Molony said. "All financial forecasts have us falling deeper and deeper into the hole." ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050623/NEWS01/506230366/1056/rss02
June 27, 200519 yr It's simple cut payroll. 450 people seems like alot of people to employ having only 20k in it's bounderies.They should never had went union that was stupid.
September 11, 200519 yr From the 9/10/05 Enquirer: Eminent domain not main issue in Norwood By Steve Kemme Enquirer staff writer NORWOOD - Eminent domain - the legal tool allowing governments to seize private property - has thrust Norwood into the national spotlight over the past three years. But the city's battle to force five property owners to sell to a developer so that the planned Rookwood Exchange office-retail-condo development can be built appears unlikely to have much impact on the current Norwood City Council races. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050910/NEWS01/509100415/1056/rss02
December 30, 200519 yr From the 12/24/05 Enquirer: Norwood scrimps by, intends '06 to be better By Steve Kemme Enquirer staff writer NORWOOD - For almost two years, Norwood has been limping along financially, scraping together just enough money to meet its semi-monthly payroll and to pay whatever bills it can. The city of more than 20,000 residents faces a year-end deficit of almost $2 million and has been on Ohio's list of financially troubled communities for more than a year. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051224/NEWS01/512240367/1056/rss02
March 10, 200619 yr From the 2/24/06 Enquirer: Ohio auditor advises layoffs in Norwood Police officers, firefighters among those targeted BY STEVE KEMME | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER NORWOOD - From laying off firefighters and police officers to eliminating its Health Department, Ohio Auditor Betty Montgomery recommended a host of actions Thursday that Norwood could take to save $5.7 million a year. The recommendations from the state's performance audit are designed to help Norwood pull itself out of its deep financial hole. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060224/NEWS01/602240411/1056/rss02 From the 3/1/06 Enquirer: PHOTO: Tom McCabe (right) and Tim Raleigh (wearing glasses) are among Norwood firefighters cleaning ladders Tuesday. A state audit recommends that the city lay off 22 firefighters. That might hamper city paramedic service. The Enquirer/Leigh Patton Norwood reluctant to cut jobs Practical concerns over police, firefighters cited BY STEVE KEMME | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER NORWOOD - Officials here made it clear Tuesday they won't be racing to enact cost-cutting recommendations from the state that include firefighter and police layoffs. City Council decided Tuesday that before taking any action, members will solicit the opinions of department heads - and hold one or two town meetings to listen to those who live or work in Norwood. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/NEWS01/603010398/1056/rss02
March 13, 200619 yr Fortunately, enterprising Norwood city council members are coming up with thier own creative solutions for the city's buget woes :evil: Norwood councilman arraigned for theft BY WILLIAM WEATHERS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER DOWNTOWN – Norwood Councilman Will DeLuca appeared for arraignment on a felony theft charge this morning in Hamilton County Municipal Court, and the case was continued until March 15 at 9 a.m. DeLuca declined to discuss the theft charge before or after his brief court appearance. “I can’t comment,” he said. DeLuca referred questions regarding his case to his attorney, R. Scott Croswell. He was out of town Wednesday and unavailable for comment, his office said. ...
May 9, 200619 yr Can city of Norwood make payroll? BY KIMBALL PERRY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER NORWOOD-- The city of Norwood may not be able to pay its employees this week, says a county auditor's office employee, because $1 million was taken from its coffers last week for a fire and police pension payment. “It may be as soon as Friday” that Norwood won’t be able to make payroll, Hamilton County auditor’s employee David Nurre told the Hamilton County Budget Commission today. ...
May 12, 200619 yr From the 5/10/06 Enquirer: Norwood's cash fears intensify BY KIMBALL PERRY AND STEVE KEMME | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITERS NORWOOD - For almost two years, Norwood officials have been warning their employees that the city's financial problems might cause them - some day - to miss all or part of a paycheck. With the recent removal of $1 million from the city's coffers for a fire and police pension payment, that day might be coming soon. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060510/NEWS01/605100345/1056/rss02
July 31, 200618 yr From the 7/31/06 Enquirer: Auditor prods Norwood to make plans BY STEVE KEMME | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER NORWOOD - It's been a bad month for Norwood. Shortly before the city lost its eminent-domain case in an Ohio Supreme Court decision that thwarted a planned $125 million commercial development, Ohio Auditor Betty Montgomery fired off a letter to Mayor Tom Williams chastising city officials for not doing more to cut costs and for not developing a financial recovery plan. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060731/NEWS01/607310351/1056/rss02
August 10, 200618 yr From the 8/9/06 Enquirer: Norwood to hire budget analyst Part-time position responsible for long-range planning BY STEVE KEMME | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER NORWOOD - City Council decided Tuesday to create a new position - part-time budget analyst - to help guide Norwood out of its financial crisis. Mayor Tom Williams, who led the push to create this position, said a budget analyst can provide the critical long-term financial planning that has been lacking in Norwood for many years. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060809/NEWS01/608090379/1056/rss02
August 10, 200618 yr I've always wondered how Norwood has such a terrible budget situation. I understand they took a huge hit when GM closed, but there are plenty of cities that never had a GM plant or the equivilent. Based on what I've seen, they aren't providing any extra services that would be considered out of the ordinary that would cause a drain on the budget. Are their union contracts that out of line with the norm? Have they place levies on the ballot that voters have rejected that would be approved in other cities or what?
August 10, 200618 yr It sounds like the city of norwood has a bunch of outdated contracts with city depts that were negotiated during the good ole days of GM, etc. Maybe they are afraid to break the contracts for fear that they'll be sued by unions and subject to more financial losses. I don't see any benefit to Cincy in annexing Norwood (even if it were possible) all it would do is boost our population numbers. Maybe once they settle their finances it might make sense.
September 15, 200618 yr Uh-oh. Plan to reduce deputy's position has Norwood auditor steamed BY STEVE KEMME | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER NORWOOD - Over the objections of City Auditor Donnie Jones, City Council Tuesday took the first step toward reducing the deputy auditor's position from full-time to part-time. The first reading of the ordinance passed by a 5-2 vote. Council must pass two more readings before it takes effect. The move would free about $15,000 a year and would enable the city to create a part-time budget analyst position. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060913/NEWS01/609130381/1056/rss02
September 29, 200618 yr Norwood hopes for $3.5M windfall HUD has say in how money's spent BY STEVE KEMME | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER September 29, 2006 NORWOOD - A $3.5 million windfall from the early payoff of an 18-year-old economic development loan might rescue Norwood from its three-year-long financial crisis. Norwood officials are elated over receiving this new pot of money, but don't know yet whether any spending restrictions are attached. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060929/NEWS01/609290413/1056/NEWS01
October 10, 200618 yr GRASSCAT: On October 11, the Enquirer ran a lengthened version of the story that was originally posted here. So I went ahead and replaced it. Mr. Anderson's original comment remains. Some great news for Norwood. Norwood windfall a relief $3.5M received from loan payoff will pay bills BY STEVE KEMME | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER NORWOOD - After being stuck in a deep financial hole for more than three years, Norwood now has a way to climb out. Federal authorities have told city officials there are no restrictions on the $3.5 million payoff the city recently received from a loan to the developer of the Rookwood commercial projects. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061011/NEWS01/610110383/1056/COL02
October 11, 200618 yr No Cincinnati shouldn't. Why would we want to take on Norwood's problems? Cincinnati shouldn't do Norwood any favors. They had their chance to be a part of us. They thought they were too good.
October 12, 200618 yr Norwood's "Surrey Square" mall is being almost entirely re-done; I saw the rendering. Theyre getting a new Kroger, but the little strip where theres a Skyline, Subway etc will stay there. All new shops will be in the mall portion. The McDonalds won't be in the same place, it will be moved forward into the parking lot next to KFC. It'll be a lot nicer. Good to see more investment going into Norwood. If Xavier gets their way with that parcel of land at Montgomery and Dana then Norwood should be seeing a huge transformation. Hopefully it helps alleviate their financial problems. Is the land Xavier is after in Norwood or Evanston? I can't remember. I still see it as beneficial to Norwood.
October 12, 200618 yr Where'd you see the rendering? That's fantastic...Surrey Square has always been so depressing...seems to me like it really makes the whole area around it seem awfully ghetto, just by association...
October 12, 200618 yr McBridedale - Clarion. We got to look at that and some other cool stuff. I agree, you walk in there and you notice the typical signs of a dead mall--the only thing left being a dollar store, GNC, Radio Shack, Asian beauty supply store and nail salon. It reminds me of Westland Mall in Columbus. Not to mention its so damn dark in there. A mall should NEVER be dark. That alone instantly sets a depressing tone.
October 12, 200618 yr McBridedale - Clarion. We got to look at that and some other cool stuff. I have no idea what that means.
October 12, 200618 yr McBride Dale Clarion is a planning firm across from the Frischs mainliner right before you enter Mariemont.
October 12, 200618 yr I love it. It's seriously like being on UrbanOhio all day. We talk about all of the same issues. The studio projects are fun as well.
December 29, 200618 yr Norwood climbs out of debt Rising tax receipts, new labor deals boost finances BY STEVE KEMME | [email protected] December 29, 2006 NORWOOD - The dark financial clouds that have hung over Norwood for at least three years have lifted. Norwood officials now see sunlight when they look at the city's immediate financial future. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061229/NEWS01/612290344/1056/COL02
January 22, 200718 yr Hmm...balancing the budget, in part, on the backs of the police and fire departments...hmm... And all that Norwood whining about the budget with the Eminent Domain abuse rings just a tad hollow now...
February 13, 200718 yr From the 1/21/07 Enquirer: Norwood turns to next levy crisis BY STEVE KEMME | [email protected] NORWOOD - Although Norwood is now in the black after several years of huge budget deficits, the city still faces a big financial hurdle this year. Norwood's five-year, 8-mill operating levy that generates $1.2 million a year in tax revenue will expire at the end of this year. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070121/NEWS01/701210357/1056/COL02
December 9, 200816 yr Norwood worries about return of bad times http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081208/NEWS0108/812080339/1169/NEWS This city in the center of Hamilton County knows all too well what tough economic times are like. It plunged into a major financial crisis in 1987 when General Motors closed its Norwood plant. It landed on the Ohio auditor's fiscal watch list in 2004 amid more financial trouble. Fiscal watch is the less serious of two designations given to financially strapped communities. ...
December 9, 200816 yr i can't remember where I read it , but the phrase was something on the order of "in the age of the iphone, when you entire industry revolves around a piece of paper holding recently updated information, you know you are in trouble."
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