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Do IT this week: Layering
Proposed plan for registration charges would start at $60 per rental property
By Marilyn Miller
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Monday, Mar 09, 2009
Barberton landlords remain unhappy over plans to impose a new registration fee on rental units in the city.
City officials want to increase fees to help keep tabs on the condition of housing in Barberton. About a third of the city's housing is rental.
The first draft of the proposal is the result of a meeting with the mayor, three landlords, two council members and the head of the building department.
''One of the chief complaints was that good landlords felt like they were being penalized along with bad landlords who don't care about their properties,'' said Ward 1 Councilman Paul Suboticki. ''We don't want to penalize everyone so we are trying to come up with some basic costs and enforce penalty codes.''
The registration fees being proposed are: $60 for one rental unit; $120 for two to three units; $240 for four to five; $360 for six to 10 rental units; $660 for 11 to 20 units and $1,260 for 21 or more.
''So much for patterning their rental registration fees after Akron,'' said landlord Mike Watson. ''It is growing into a
monster.''
He said Barberton would be the fourth highest in the state for registration fees and second highest for inspection fees.
''Yes, they are higher than Akron's registration fees,'' said Barberton Mayor Bob Genet. ''But depending on where you fit in you could be paying less than the $60 per unit if additional units are owned.''
He said the city is also looking into more building code enforcement.
Akron calls for $15 registration fees for one property, $25 for two to three, $75 for six to 25; $150 for 26 to 100; above 100, $250.
Suboticki said the $60 per unit comes from what contractors pay the city.
''If you want to do business in the city, whether you are a plumber or electrician, you must pay the city a $60 fee and get a permit for each job,'' he said.
Another item in the draft states if a landlord or property operator acquires additional property between registration periods, a minimum fee of $25 would be imposed.
It also states that the money collected will be used exclusively for housing improvement, infrastructure and administration purposes.
The mayor said they are still working on those details, but the majority of the money will go toward improving the quality of the city's neighborhoods and possibly will include such things as sidewalk upgrades.
''This is a start. We will meet for as many times as it takes to reach something that we can live with. We value input from landlords, but we want to adopt something that really works,'' said Suboticki.
Genet said he would like to have the new registration fee program up and running by summer.
Landlords plan to meet again.
''We will have our [landlords'] committee explain our recommendation to the city,'' Watson said. ''This will be an organizational meeting to set up three different committees and collect money for our newly formed political action committee.''
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.
Barberton landlords remain unhappy over plans to impose a new registration fee on rental units in the city.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 06:30 AM, 03/09/2009
If we would use the same formula for dealing out sentencing for law breakers the coffers would be full and people would obey the rules. First DUI $100 with no jail. Second DUI $1000 and 10 days in the slammer. Third $10,000 and 100 days. Fouth 100 G's or work it off for 1000 days. And by then if you ain't got it you better have the time and be willing to work cheap breaking rocks for about 30 years.
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 06:34 AM, 03/09/2009
It's Barberton at it's best revenue raising. You want to see more foreclosures and empty rental properties, pass this lousey legislation Mayor & Council. If I owned property in Barberton, I'd just pass the cost on to those who can least afford it, my section 8 tenants, and renters.
Posted 06:48 AM, 03/09/2009
Why is Barberton just picking on the rental houses? If you want to fix up Barberton fix up ALL the houses not just the houses owned by a "landlord".
With todays higher taxes and insurance the renters in Barberton dont need another increase in rent. This $60-120 per year inspection fee equals a $5-10 dollars a month rent increase. To increase rent in this depression is not good for the citizens of Barberton.
BTW Barberton already has a rental inspection program and I have had to pay that fee also.
Akron, OH
Posted 07:10 AM, 03/09/2009
I remember I got a $0 fine in Barberton. But they won't those court costs! Keep it movin'!
akron, oh
Posted 07:21 AM, 03/09/2009
just another TAX on the little guy who do they think there kidding.
Canton, oh
Posted 07:25 AM, 03/09/2009
Toby: Current law 'round these parts is $10,000 for a DUI, if I'm told right. That's a tremendous financial incentive for the rotten local traffic courts as it is.
Get this: One guy I came across years ago was charged with a DUI even though he was not driving, but he was "intoxicated" while in a parked car on private property, i.e., trying to sleep it off.
Remember: Safety is the excuse, money is the real reason.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:09 AM, 03/09/2009
I remember I got a $0 fine in Barberton. But they want those court costs! Keep it movin'!
akron, oh
Posted 08:42 AM, 03/09/2009
Quick note to all.
Since Akron imposed it's "rental inspection"fees and registration has the quality of the housing improved or declined?
It is simply a badly thought out program designed to milk RESPONSIBLE landlords.
Seven thousand vacant houses in Akron means that tenants have the freedom to move anywhere their financial ability or voucher allows them.
AMHA has strict housing codes that most of your homes wouldn't pass, so inspecting those properties is redundent.
The real problem with the housing stock is all of the foreclosed properties ,stuck in legal limbo vacant,vandalized and a danger to public safety.
You would think that going after the these owners-far flung banks, and federal agencies-would keep the housing inspectors too busy to bother responsible local landlords,but you would be wrong.
So, yes Barberton,model your program to Akron's because it has been such a resounding sucess.
P.S.
I have personnaly reported vacant,dangerous homes to the Health dept.only to be told, several years later ,that since they were in the above legal limbo orders had to be mailed to several entities and they had to be given time to respond.After which I was given threatening inuando concerning my property.This program is unfair,a blatant revenue raising scheme to tax the only folks keeping some neighborhoods viable and worthless as any proverb.
Akron, , OH
Posted 09:07 AM, 03/09/2009
Fools in office again!
It's called extortion and should be prosecuted !!!!
Stumpy -- understands extortion!
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:18 AM, 03/09/2009
Landlords, be sure to accurately list on the renters recipe the reason for the increase in their rent, that way they know for sure, Barberton City Council tax. Be sure to list all their names that way they're sure to vote against them in the next election.
Posted 10:47 AM, 03/09/2009
I'm a landlord in Barberton and have 2 units.
First, the math on their proposal makes no sense.
A single unit costs $60 to register. Two or three units cost $120 (a fee of either $60 or $40 per unit, depending on how many you have). But four units will cost you $240, which means that once again the cost goes up to $60 per unit if you acquire a fourth property. That's just stupid math.
Second, the city originally said these fees would be used to hire an inspector and a secretary and associated costs. Now the mayor is saying the fees will go to neighborhood improvement and sidewalks. So last I checked, two thirds of properties are owner occupied residential, not rental. Why shouldn't they have to foot the bill for neighborhood improvement too??
Anti-Politically Correct & Anti-GOP, OH
Posted 11:22 AM, 03/09/2009
I'm still waiting on when they plan to use that $5.00 per month that they have been collecting for the last few years for rain water runoff. By the way, we never voted on that issue either.
Posted 11:49 AM, 03/09/2009
Yeh, I was a little confused by that rainwater thing too spd3333. I thought most of our rainwater ended up in the Tuscarawas River untreated. I wonder what they're doing with it that they have to charge us?
wads, OH
Posted 12:03 PM, 03/09/2009
way to go Barbertucky!!! put it all on the renters..because that is who will pay...hope you all get voted out..the PAC being formed will have a lot of support by the time of the next elections....if you need more money...try enforcing the one way and speed violators around Santrock school area...screw the violators...not the poor renters...bald face liars in office..."patterned after akron" ...think we are all stupid!!!
Posted 12:23 PM, 03/09/2009
Several years ago I called Akron to complain about one of the rundown rental houses near my private,well maintained residence. What I got for my efforts was an inspection report on MY property demanding thousands of dollars of repairs. Being a good citizen, I did these repairs but they were really just a waste of money since virtually nothing was done by the Absentee landlords on their properties. They continued to let their properties fall apart, and now most of them are vacant and boarded up which just destroys what is left of my property value
Posted 02:05 PM, 03/09/2009
Marvin,
I am somewhat skeptical of your claim that your complaint about the condition of a rental property was met with retaliation against you by the city.
You can file complaints about code violations with the city anonymously. So there was no need for them ever to know your name or address. I've complained to our city officials in Barberton about violations of city ordinances from time to time and I always do so anonymously and the problem was always promptly remedied.
Is it possible that since you live near these rundown homes that your violations were noted as part of a curbside inspection of the entire block/street?
Akron, Oh
Posted 02:33 PM, 03/09/2009
Yea Socialism!
Akron, OH
Posted 03:29 PM, 03/09/2009
These fees are an Obamanation!
doyelstown, oh
Posted 05:10 PM, 03/09/2009
I'm pretty sick of people who are so willing to bad mouth ELECTED city officals. Honestly saying that they should all be fired and start over you would end up with exactly the same set up. The citizens vote and that is that is who the people put in office. Those of you who say such stupid comments are the ones who don't even turn up to vote! Get off your butts and do something instead of complaining about it on a comment board. If you feel that stongly about an issue write a letter, join a group, just don't run your mouth.
Posted 06:11 PM, 03/09/2009
Time and time again people complain yet when they have a chance to vote those who do this out, nothing. You get what you ask for. Barberton politics is the worst and has been for years yet still the same people lay it to you tima and time again. There is one thing you can be positive about and that is the Landlords are gonna end up being charged what was initially proposed. The Democrats down there could care less what you think.
Munroe Falls, Oh
Posted 06:12 PM, 03/09/2009
I think Barberton needs to worry about cleaning up "crack alley" and the bars that support the "crack" trade. If you live in Barberton you know where I mean.
Munroe Falls, Oh
Posted 06:15 PM, 03/09/2009
Anyone seen the local police officer that likes to sleep in his car in the church parking lot next to KFC? I think they have a lot bigger problems then rental fees!
mogadore, oh
Posted 09:49 PM, 03/09/2009
Most of these rentals are meth houses in the heart of barbertucky.
Posted 10:17 PM, 03/09/2009
This is just another tax. In this depression we dont need more taxes. Cost of renting houses in Barberton has gone up $20 per month to me on taxes and insurance. This got passed on to the tennant. Now the city wants us to raise the rent another $5-10 per month.
If you think the house you rent is not kept up MOVE. Dont rent the house, when it sets empty the landlord will have to fix it up to rent.
We dont need any more TAX AND SPEND.
Akron, oh
Posted 07:31 AM, 03/10/2009
Akron land lord fee was taxation without representation.
It was a Marco Sommerville Plusquellic way of raising more taxes only.The money went to other pet projects. They already had money ear marked for housing inspectors. The fees were not needed. the building department doesn't ever seem to enforce building codes when a private home is in disrepair.
This was just showing how incompetent city hall is in managing money already allocated for inspections.
Of course Akron has been a loser city under the Mayors and Marco's watch. Why should any city take Akron as an example of good government.
If anyone noticed Akron needs less housing because of the many jobs that left Akron under the Mayor Don's leadership of making Akron into a welfare city with out good schools and crippled saftey forces.
Wake uo Barberton
tallmadge, oh
Posted 11:38 AM, 03/10/2009
What I propose is that Big Brother become an investor in the housing units in exchange for the right to make decisions. Big Brother, I know you'll put your money where your mouth is.
We also need to determine if Big Brother is loyal to Barberton or if Big Brother wants to fund his own paycheck. We need a sniff test to determine what Big Brother's motives truly are.
We need a transcript of Big Brother's Grades from elementary school to show capability. After all, without Government issued qualification men are basically stupid and worthless.
Has Big Brother paid all his tax? How is Big Brothers Credit rating?
I know Big Brother can make a huge contribution to Barberton Housing. I know Big Brother has a higher IQ than any single individial
I'm on Big Brother's side ..... Stalin and Lenin Rule!
Barberton, Oh
Posted 09:52 PM, 05/08/2009
spellbound27:
Did you ever consider that when Marvin made his complaint to the building department employee that the employee probably calculated that it was Marvin since the violation was only visible from one direction and that would be from Marvins property? For instance, Marvin's complaint could of been about a specific side of his neighbors back yard only visible to Marvin, or on the side of the house that the side of Marvin's house is the only one next to the properly in violation and/or Marvin may see the violation pertaining to the roof of the property in violation that is at such an angle that is only visible from somewhere in Marvin's house.
Also, Barberton does not have a 'curbside' inspection program that I'm aware of so it would not of been a randam coincidence that Marvin was also cited. I've reviewed the codes at least 10 times and have never seen such a program.
