Several area communities are seeking tax increases in Tuesday’s primary election.
Munroe Falls, Macedonia and Lakemore will attempt to increase their income taxes in Summit County. Munroe Falls also is looking to pass a new property tax to pay for police-related expenses.
Springfield is seeking a property tax renewal and increase as well as an additional property tax for police department expenses. And Coventry hopes to pass a property tax renewal and increase to pay for policing services from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
Munroe Falls
For Munroe Falls voters, the ballot issues are familiar ones.
Voters there rejected two identical issues during November’s general election while approving a 2-mill, 10-year capital improvements levy for road maintenance.
Issue 4 is a proposed increase in the income tax rate from 2 percent to 2.25 percent, with an estimated $276,000 yearly in added revenue. However, residents who work in other communities and pay local taxes of 2.25 percent or more would not pay increased taxes because of the city’s 100 percent income tax credit. Those who pay less elsewhere would have to pay the difference between the two.
If passed, it would cost those who make $50,000 per year an extra $125 per year.
Issue 5 is a 2.8-mill, five-year police levy that would cost homeowners $98 per year for $100,000 in home valuation.
Munroe Falls Mayor James Armstrong said the increases are necessary to avoid cutting police personnel. The city has six officers including the chief.
“We don’t have enough money to pay for current expenses,” said Armstrong, who took office in January 2016. “There was an operational deficit when I took office. We spent a half million [dollars] more in 2015 than we took in.”
Armstrong said if either or both issues fail, the city would probably put them on the ballot again in November.
“For the sake of morale of the police department, I really want to see Issue 5 pass,” he said. “Issue 4 is also very important. They go hand in hand to address general operating needs.”
Macedonia
One of the most contentious of the local ballot issues is in Macedonia. Issue 3 would increase the city income tax from 1.75 percent to 2.25 percent for road improvements, parks and recreation and general operations and maintenance. The current income tax rate of 2 percent is scheduled to roll back to 1.75 percent on June 30 if the measure doesn’t pass.
The measure includes a refund for residents only to keep their city income tax rate at the current 2 percent.
Two of the five members of City Council opposed placing it on the ballot. One of those, Sylvia Hanneken, is campaigning against passage, saying that proponents “have been unable to make their case that the taxes are needed.”
Macedonia Mayor James Migliorini said Hanneken is spreading misinformation.
“She has falsely and intentionally misled the general public about what the city finances are,” said Migliorini. “And she is doing it for selfish reasons.”
He said the city’s finance director contends the city is in a “crisis situation” that be addressed.
“If it fails, we might have to cut back on a lot of things,” Migliorini said. “I hate making threats to residents. I’m not trying to say that. But we have no other choice here.”
Springfield Township
In Springfield Township, Issue 9 is a property tax police renewal of 3 mills with an increase of 1.5 mills for a total of 4.5 mills. Issue 10 is an additional property tax of 1.8 mills for parks and recreation. If both pass, they would cost residents $166.50 per year per $100,000 of appraised value, according to fiscal officer Sharon Harms.
The township hopes to add at least one new police cruiser, and possibly two if it loses one vehicle to Lakemore if the village restarts its police department.
Coventry Township
Issue 7 in Coventry Township will ask voters to approve a property tax renewal of 2.5 mills with an increase of 1.5 mills, a total of 4 mills, for policing services. Issue 8 is for renewal of an existing 2.25-mill, five-year fire and EMS levy.
The existing 2.5-mill policing levy provides $565,380, according to township administrator Anna Sawhill, while the current sheriff’s department contract costs the township $756,089, an annual difference of $190,709. The contract provides one deputy seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
If the levy fails, the township could lose a shift of coverage, one or two days a week, Sawhill said, adding it would also force Coventry to go back to the voters to get a renewal of the 2.5-mill levy.
Lakemore
Issue 6 in Lakemore asks voters to boost the income tax from 2 percent to 2.25 percent to raise money for general operations.
The increase would raise about $92,000 a year. The money would be dedicated to repairing roads and buying new equipment, Mayor Rick Justice said.
If the increase is approved, he said, “I would say within the course of five or six years, we should have our roads back in good shape.”
The village didn’t want to ask for a property tax levy because officials didn’t want to impact seniors and others living on a fixed income, he said.
Lakemore offers a 100 percent income tax credit so if residents are paying 2.25 percent elsewhere, they won’t be affected by an increase, Justice added.
Other issues
In Medina County, Wadsworth is seeking a tax increase for emergency medical services. Voters are being asked to approve a 2.3-mill property tax renewal and an additional 0.2-mill increase for five years. The city hopes to replace two ambulances.
In Portage County, residents of Brady Lake are deciding whether to dissolve the village. If the measure passes, Brady Lake would become part of Franklin Township.
In countywide ballot issues:
• The Medina County Library District is asking for a 1.25-mill renewal with a 0.25-mill increase for 10 years for current expenses.
• Stark County is seeking continuation of an existing county sales and use tax of one-half of 1 percent for the purpose of supporting criminal and administrative justice services for the county for eight years, starting on April 1, 2020.
Beacon Journal staff writer Rick Armon contributed to this report.