![\"headshot\"](\"https:\/\/artscimedia.case.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/238\/2024\/06\/06175011\/rokakis.gif\")
Jim Rokakis –\u00a0Cuyahoga County Treasurer<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/p>\n
Friday November 7, 2008
\n12:30-1:30 p.m.
\nCrawford Hall – Room 9
\nInamori Center
\nCase Western Reserve University<\/h5>\n
<\/p>\n
Dear Colleagues,<\/p>\n
The current financial meltdown has many, many causes. But the proximate cause was mortgages that the borrowers could not pay, resulting in foreclosure and default on the debt. Cuyahoga County has been on the leading edge of the unfortunate process that began with predatory lending, and County Treasurer Jim Rokakis began sounding the alarm many years before the problem hit the national and international news. He joins our Friday lunch to discuss policies and prospects going forward.<\/p>\n
Jim Rokakis has served as County Treasurer since 1997, after 19 years on Cleveland City Council. He is a graduate of Oberlin College and Cleveland-Marshall School of Law. Among many honors, he has received the NeighborWorks America Local Government Service Award and has been named County Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine<\/p>\n
As usual, we will gather in Room 9 of the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence, on the lower level of Crawford Hall, for free cookies, beverages, and brown bag lunch.<\/p>\n
Best regards,
\nJoe White<\/p>\n
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About Our Guest<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
Jim Rokakis<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0took office as County Treasurer in 1997 after serving for over 19 years on Cleveland City Council and has brought sweeping reform to the Treasurer’s Office.<\/p>\n Rokakis overhauled Cuyahoga County\u2019s property tax collection system, instituting more efficient collection and disbursement of tax revenue that resulted in an estimated additional $2 million in annual interest income for school systems throughout the county and won accolades from the Cuyahoga County School Treasurers Association. Jim has significantly improved Cuyahoga County\u2019s investment function, substantially increasing the county\u2019s return and the diversification of the portfolio, while significantly reducing the fees spent on advisory services.\u00a0 The Cleveland Plain Dealer recently recognized the county’s portfolio as having the best performance among those evaluated for the period 1999 \u2013 2001.<\/p>\n Jim has greatly upgraded office operations.\u00a0 State-of-the-art tax billing and processing systems make the office more efficient, and a heightened commitment to customer service allows the office to be more helpful to taxpayers.\u00a0 An interactive website enables taxpayers to pay their property taxes online. Despite the additional programs and services now provided, staffing levels have been reduced.<\/p>\n An innovative Treasurer, Jim revolutionized the way Cuyahoga County and other counties in Ohio collect delinquent property taxes.\u00a0 He worked successfully to pass House Bill 371, which became law in 1997 and allows county treasurers in the twelve largest counties to sell their property tax liens to private entities. Tax lien sales and other improved procedures increased the collection of delinquencies by 50% in the first year.\u00a0 The improvements in investment and collection procedures implemented by Rokakis helped earn the county an upgrade in its bond rating.<\/p>\n Faced with Cuyahoga County\u2019s mortgage foreclosure crisis, Rokakis helped to write and pass House Bill 294 that streamlines the foreclosure process for abandoned properties.\u00a0 Jim took the leadership role in creating the County\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Borrow Trouble\u201d mortgage foreclosure prevention program which combats predatory lending and assists homeowners facing foreclosure.\u00a0 Additionally, Jim has developed a program that uses the investment portfolio to purchase bonds from cities to help them deal with the costs associated with abandoned properties resulting from foreclosures.<\/p>\n As one tool to address the issue of the decline of older suburbs and the resulting out-migration, Rokakis developed the Home Enhancement Loan Program (HELP).\u00a0 This program, the first of its kind in the country, offers home improvement loans at three percentage points less than the lowest rate a bank would otherwise charge.\u00a0 HELP has received the Community Impact Award from Dominion East Ohio\/Inside Business Magazine, an award from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (Greater Cleveland chapter), and won the 2003 EPA Smart Growth Award.\u00a0 Rokakis also has introduced the Heritage Home Loan Program (HHLP), a program designed to preserve neighborhood character, in partnership with the Cleveland Restoration Society.<\/p>\n Rokakis is using the Treasurer’s Office to address other problems faced by Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.\u00a0 He was instrumental in the enactment of House Bill 293 which helps senior citizens remain in their homes by allowing them to defer all or part of their property taxes.\u00a0 Rokakis is also leading a debate over payments in lieu of property taxes by non-profit organizations to help lessen school funding problems created by a shrinking tax base.<\/p>\n Jim has been recognized by local and national organizations for his efforts in strengthening neighborhoods and communities.\u00a0 In 2007 he received the NeighborWorks America Local Government Service Award, the Leadership in Social Justice Award from Greater Cleveland Community Shares, and was named the County Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine.<\/p>\n Serving as Cleveland\u2019s Ward 15 Councilman, Jim represented the neighborhood he grew up in (Archwood-Denison) and during his last seven years on council he chaired the Finance Committee.\u00a0 Jim was a leader in developing the Gateway Sports Complex – a catalyst for the revitalization of downtown Cleveland.\u00a0 Jim crafted the compromise between the Cleveland Public Schools and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum that allowed the project to proceed.\u00a0 A legislative leader on City Council, Rokakis was responsible for Cleveland\u2019s gun buy-back program, the Indoor Clean Air Act (to regulate smoking in public places), the creation of Cleveland\u2019s Housing Court, and the \u201cchop-shop\u201d law to fight car thefts.<\/p>\n Jim is a graduate of Oberlin College and Cleveland-Marshall School of Law.\u00a0 He is married to the former Laurie Shafer.\u00a0 Jim and Laurie have three children.<\/p>\n November 21: TBA<\/strong><\/p>\n November 28: Thanksgiving Break<\/strong><\/p>\n December 5: TBA<\/strong><\/h6>\n The Friday Lunch discussions are held on the lower (ground) level of Crawford Hall.\u00a0 Visitors with mobility issues may find it easiest to take advantage of special arrangements we have made.\u00a0 On most Fridays, a few parking spaces in the V.I.P. lot in between Crawford Hall and Amasa Stone Chapel are held for participants in the lunch discussion.<\/p>\n Visitors then can avoid walking up the hill to the first floor of Crawford by entering the building on the ground level, through the garage area under the building.\u00a0 The further door on the left in that garage will be left unlocked during the period before the Friday lunch.\u00a0 On occasion, parking will be unavailable because of other university events.<\/p>\n For more information about these and other Center for Policy Studies programs, please see\u00a0http:\/\/policy.case.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dear Colleagues,<\/p>\n The current financial meltdown has many, many causes. But the proximate cause was mortgages that the borrowers could not pay, resulting in foreclosure and default on the debt. Cuyahoga County has been on the leading edge of the unfortunate process that began with predatory lending, and County Treasurer Jim Rokakis began sounding the alarm many years before the problem hit the national and international news.<\/p>\n
\nFriday Lunch Upcoming Topics and Speakers:<\/h3>\n
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November 14:\u00a0<\/strong>Charging for Car Insurance by the Mile: Good Business and Good for Energy and the Environment?<\/span>\u00a0With Richard Hutchinson, General Manager for the \u201cMy Rate\u201d program, Progressive Insurance.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nJim Rokakis –\u00a0Cuyahoga County Treasurer<\/strong>
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\nFriday November 7, 2008
\n12:30-1:30 p.m.
\nCrawford Hall – Room 9
\nInamori Center
\nCase Western Reserve University
\n <\/p>\n