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TOLEDO -- Toledo City Council hosted another district budget meeting with city residents.  Thursday night’s meeting was held at Grace Church on 3700 Dorr St.   

Residents had the opportunity to address Mayor Bell and Deputy Mayor Herwat directly.  City leaders reinforced to residents that the deficit was caused primarily by the jobs lost by its residents.  “It was created because people were out of work and we don’t have the income tax.  And that’s what they’re not seeing.  If we don’t have people going back to work we don’t have the income tax.  We have to cut somewhere,” Councilwoman Wilma Brown.

Art Jones was one of nearly 100 residents that attended the meeting.  Jones served two years on Toledo City Council during the Ford administration.  He suggests the city implements a wage freeze with benefits for four years to allow the city time to recover.  “You know we have city employees and were paying them good wages and I understand that but at a time like this here, everyone here has to give up something.”