Residents To Vote On Income-Tax Hike In August
NBC 4
UPDATE: Columbus city council members approve placing an income-tax increase on a special August ballot.
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Columbus city council made it official Monday night. The city will ask voters to agree to an income-tax increase.
NBC 4 gives you the FAST FACTS.
Voters in the city of Columbus will get a chance to decide whether the city should raise its income tax come August.
The current city income tax is 2 percent, and the city wants to raise it to 2.5 percent.
The city said the following changes will go into effect if the half-percent income tax hike is not approved by voters.
City officials said if the increase didn’t pass major cuts and closings will happen, including the closing of all park and recreation centers and cuts in public-service and development departments, which could include police and fire services.
It will cost taxpayers $50 more a year for every $10,000 in income.
The city said it would generate $100 million in revenue if the income tax hike were to pass.
Columbus residents will get a chance to vote on whether or not to pass the half-percent income tax increase during a special Tuesday, August 4, 2009 ballot.
As of now, it will be the only issue on the ballot. Putting an issue on the ballot costs $1,100 per precinct. The city has 521 precincts, which would bring the total to $573,100.
If the city were to wait until the November election, it could share that cost with other government officials running for office, such as city council members and judicial candidates, according to Ben Piscitelli, spokesman for the Franklin County Board of Elections. However, waiting until November also would give the city less time to prepare its budget for the following year.
Why an income-tax increase? The city’s current budget shortfall is $16 million.
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Reader Reactions
You have 3 more years of him then you can get rid of him. I have heard however that he has some woman pregnant maybe that will get him out. Until then Columbus hasn’t asked for income tax increase for a very long time. Considering the economy right now things have changed. I would vote yes on this unfortunately I don’t live in Columbus. There will be a lot of people out of a job mostly police and fire. Some people call it a threat I call it reality they will lose their jobs. Hopefully there is enough people in Columbus who care about the police and fire and see the good they have done for people and decide to vote yes. I agree Coleman sucks but no one had a problem re-electing him but now you want him out.
What building do they need to tear down now?does the Mayor need another car or just his buddy Mentel?
This town has gone down the tubes in a big way since Coleman took over.
WHAT DOES COLUMBUS HAVE IN COMMON WITH DETROIT? DEMOCRATIC LIBERALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I make substantially more now than I did in 1982. That means that the city of Columbus has been getting more and more from me through the years as my income went up. It’s not my fault that they cannot manage what they have. The mayor and city council need to GO.
VOTE THE BUMS OUT!
People are losing their jobs left and right, every business in the country is cutting their expenses to the bone, and the City of Columbus wants a 25% increase in the income tax?!
Just how out of touch with reality ARE Coleman and the members of the City Council?
Don’t believe the hype, the city is making money. Coleman is a con-artist. We won’t turn into Detroit, never happen.
BigBoy,
I have received raises since 1982. So has the City of Columbus because everytime I get a raise, they get a raise. Remember its 2% of income, the tax does not stipulate 2% of 1982 income.
I am a tax payer to the city, but I do not get to vote on the issue, its not right that a tax imposed on me is in the hands of other people. Don’t be bullied into voting yes for this increase. That is all that happens anymore, people being bullied and scared into voting a certain way. The schools do it all the time. The schools systems just put the levies on the ballot until they pass, and I bet that if this doesn’t pass in august, it will be there in november as well.
I don’t know too many people that haven’t received some kind of income increase since the last income tax increase, which I believe was 1982. How many people voting no are living on their 1982 or even 1992 incomes? If you want acceptable city services, then vote for the increase. If you don’t like the people in office, work to vote them out of office at the next election and make sure that you watch their spending and that of the new people in office. It’s our money!
Message to Columbus city council:
Prepare two budgets now for both scenarios and wait until November to have it on the ballot. Then, pick the budget that follows the voters decision.
As a side note, like the SWCS district holding sports hostage to get a levy passed, holding police jobs hostage to get an income tax increase will not bode well. Seems like a good opportunity for new blood to run for key offices.
Enough is enough. If I could vote on it, I’d vote no. All you idiots out there that want to continue to up the taxes, then you can pay them, not me!
WAKE UP PEOPLE, if you think tea parties are bad, wait to you see what’s coming next…..........
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