Insights
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Moraine City Council Meeting Recap:
Planning, Problem-Solving and Good Data Last night, I attended the Moraine City Council Meeting and came away impressed by several examples of proactive problem-solving, strong department involvement and efficient local government. I also arrived early enough to catch the Committee of the Whole workshop before the formal Council meeting began. That gave me another opportunity…
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Property Record Accuracy Matters:
What One Neighborhood Audit Revealed Property Record Accuracy is something most homeowners never think about—until they discover an error. Every day, homeowners, buyers, appraisers, lenders, and local governments rely on public property records. When those records are complete and accurate, they build confidence. When they contain errors or inconsistencies, they raise important questions about the…
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Problem-Solving Leadership for Better Public Service
Problem-Solving Leadership Starts with Listening One lesson has stayed with me throughout more than 25 years of helping homeowners across our communities: Every problem has a solution—but only if you’re willing to listen first. Whether helping a family purchase their first home, resolving a complicated property issue, or answering questions about taxes and property values,…
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One Street. One “Audit” = 28% Inaccurate?!
Are Montgomery County Property Records Accurate? Can Montgomery County property owners trust the information in their public property records? To find out, I reviewed the Auditor’s public property reports for every home on one street. That street contains 46 homes. I expected to find an occasional mistake. Instead, I found missing information, obvious errors, rental-registration…
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Does Your New Property Value Make Sense?
What Every Homeowner Should Know A higher property value doesn’t automatically mean it’s wrong. It also doesn’t automatically mean it’s right. Before accepting a new assessment, homeowners should understand when a Property Value Dispute makes sense. Has your property value increased significantly? Do your neighbors’ homes appear to have much lower values? Did you recently…
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Phillipsburg Council Meeting Recap:
Planning Ahead to Protect Essential Services Last night, I attended the Phillipsburg Council Meeting to learn more about the issues and opportunities facing this close-knit Montgomery County community. While Phillipsburg may not have the same size or resources as some larger cities or townships, the discussions demonstrated that thoughtful planning and dedicated leadership are just…
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Tammy’s Approach to Property Tax Reform:
A Better Way Forward for Homeowners Over the past few weeks, months, and even years, I have listened to growing concerns about property taxes. My property tax reform approach comes directly from those conversations—because the frustration people are feeling is real, consistent, and cannot be ignored. IF the New Governor does not Dismantle the Property…
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German Township Trustee Meeting Recap:
Community Preparedness, Local Investments, and Transparency in Action One of the things I’ve learned while attending meetings across Montgomery County is that every community has different priorities. And, the German Township Trustee meeting reflected that well. Although the evening began with remarks from State Representative Rodney Creech discussing current legislation, I found the most valuable…
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County Financial Reserves Policy:
Who Decides How Much Is Enough? Over the past several weeks, we’ve taken a closer look at Montgomery County’s financial reports. We reviewed revenue, spending, and the patterns that have developed over the last 10 years. What we found was clear. The County is in a strong financial position. Revenues have increased.Spending has expanded.Assets, investments,…
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County Revenue and Spending Trends:
What Happened to $276 Million Over Budget? Over the past 10 years, Montgomery County collected more than $276 million above what was originally budgeted. That finding raised an obvious question: Where did that money go? To answer that, we didn’t rely on assumptions. We reviewed the County’s own financial reports—year by year—to understand both revenue…