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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