2003-05 Lebanon City Council Voting Record

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Starting June 23, 2003, the votes of Lebanon City Council members on important resolutions that relate to revenues, spending, and long-term debt assumption were recorded. The opinion of the Lebanon Mayor, who does not have a vote, is also recorded because the Mayor is responsible for much that comes before the Council. Lebanon voters should consider these key votes and opinions when they make election decisions at the ballot box.  

Food and Beverage Tax. The Family Meals Tax approved on September 29, 2005, is Taxpayer UNfriendly. A NO vote receives a Watchdog Lebanon . A YES vote receives a Watchdog Lebanon X.

Lebanon Public Library Alley Closing. A request by the Lebanon Public Library Board to close an alley that runs north and south between the existing library building and a proposed $8 million addition should NOT have been approved (in spite of the mayor's veto) on July 12, 2004, because (1) the library addition is overbuilt and extravagant, (2) the number of items borrowed by Library patrons from 1999 to 2001 decreased steadily from 147,993 to 144,494 to 142,617, and (3) closing the alley would interfere with truck deliveries to the Russell & Hitch Funeral Home. A NO vote (AGAINST overriding the mayor's veto and closing the alley) received a Watchdog Lebanon . A YES vote (FOR overriding the mayor's veto and closing the alley) received a Watchdog Lebanon X.  

Lebanon Utilities Availability, Connection, Inspection Fee Increases. Ordinances No. 03-10 and 03-11 (passed on July 14, 2003) impose increased Availability and Connection/Inspection Fees on new users of Lebanon's water and sewage systems. These Ordinances MAY help keep Lebanon's monthly water and sewer rates from increasing and help limit the rate of Lebanon's residential development. A YES vote (FOR increasing the Availability and Connection/Inspection Fees) receives a Watchdog Lebanon . A NO vote receives a Watchdog Lebanon X.

Lebanon Municipal Building. The Lebanon Municipal Building Project approved on August 25, 2003, is Taxpayer UNfriendly because its over-built extravagance overshadows the good result of a Public Safety Building. The unnecessary bond issue will undoubtedly lead to utility rate and property tax increases. An acceptable Municipal Building Project would have been one capped at $3 million without a bond issue. A NO vote against issuing bonds for the Project receives a Watchdog Lebanon . A YES vote in favor of a $6.5 million bond issue for the Project receives a Watchdog Lebanon X.

2004 Budget. Lebanon's 2004 City Budget, which was passed on August 25, 2003, is Taxpayer Friendly because it shows a 2004 Property Tax levy decrease of at least 3.44 percent. A YES vote in favor of the budget receives a Watchdog Lebanon . A NO vote receives a Watchdog Lebanon X.

KEY:     = Taxpayer Friendly Vote
  X   = Taxpayer Unfriendly Vote
             DNV = Did Not Vote   

Member	Family Meals Tax	Lebanon Public Library Alley Closing	Lebanon Utilities Availability, Connection, Inspection Fee Increases	Lebanon Municipal Building	2004 Budget
James H. Acton, Mayor	X			X
Kay Geisler				X
Andrea Hester	DNV	X		X
John W. Lasley	X	X		X
Richard Robertson	X	X
Jim Messenger	X	X
Emmadell Sturgis	X	X		X
Jeremy Lamar	X	X

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This page was last updated on 02/11/15.