League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
	Hamilton County, OH November 8, 2011 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Fiscal Officer; Township of Springfield

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Basic Services, Budget, Clean Air Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. What services do you believe should be considered basic and essential for the township? Answer from Mark Bollmer: The Township provides an array of services. Each one is essential to every citizen. Our safety and health are vital. We are lucky to have three top level departments in our Township. The police, fire and service divisions will continue to provide us with these essentials. Answer from David Miller: Government officials are public servants to the voters and stewards of their public assets. Springfield Township must properly use public policy in order to manage necessary public services such as roads and sanitation, insure public safety through police and fire, and create an atmosphere where the free market economy can flourish through private industry with a minimum of government regulation. Answer from Dan Berning: I believe the basic services are police, fire, emergency care, snow removal and roads. The Township has been able to provide these services to a high standard. I believe we need to continue to provide these services and to keep the standard high. 2. How would you balance the Township Budget? Answer from David Miller: Every year and every day a thorough evaluation of every dollar spent should be made in order to be certain that each is being spent legally, properly and wisely. Efficiency and performance reviews must continue to play an integral role. Due to the phasing out of estate tax revenue over the next few years, the Trustees will be forced to look at how the reserve fund will play a part in supplementing that loss. With a fragile economy and stressed personal budgets, tax increases are not an option. Answer from Dan Berning: The Township is now in great shape financially. To keep it that way we need to balance the budget and look for ways to recieve outside finances from grants, federal funds and state expenditures. We need to stick to our basic services and work with the residents on what may be needed in the future. Answer from Mark Bollmer: The trustees and administration have done a remarkable job of keeping the Township fiscally sound. Upcoming state cuts will make this task much more difficult. I plan on working with them to review each line item of the budget. Search to find ways of creating "efficiency" decreases. Locate ways to do things better, but "cheaper." We must look under every stone for more revenue avenues and then focus on our financial future. 3. What actions will you take to support clean air? Answer from Dan Berning: I would continue to recycle in the Fiscal Office and use any green items available to support clean air. Answer from David Miller: My responsibilities as Fiscal Officer does not allow for any direct action on this issue. Answer from Mark Bollmer: Not applicable to my position Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits may apply. See individual questions for specific word limits. Direct references to opponents are not permitted. Please edit your work before submitting. We are unable to provide spell-check at this time. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.