By Diane Smith
Record-Courier staff writer
A team of city officials is laying the groundwork for promoting the income tax issue on the May ballot.
The group, which calls itself Citizens for the Ravenna Levy, will be promoting Issue 2, the 0.25 percent income tax issue. The issue would keep the city's income tax rate at 2 percent.
"Not a new tax" will be the theme of the levy campaign.
The income tax was enacted in 1979, when the city's water plant burned down and was replaced by the existing water plant at Lake Hodgson. The bonds will be paid off this year, and the levy is due to expire Dec. 31.
Although the measure is technically a new tax and not a renewal, the city's income tax would remain unchanged. However, since the purpose of the measure is changing to fund operations at the water plant, the ballot language must refer to the issue as an "additional tax."
Finance Director Kim Cecora will be the treasurer of the campaign, and Councilman Bruce Rieblin will be the chairman. Several city officials have made small personal donations toward the fund.
The city's police and AFSCME unions will be asked to support the levy, which the city's firefighters union already has done.
"This is a very critical issue," Mayor Kevin Poland said, noting that other cities are enacting layoffs or considering reducing their credit to tax paid to other cities, which he wants to avoid.
"We're really trying to weather this economic downturn, however, without these funds, that's going to be difficult."
Council members noted that senior citizens do not pay the tax, and 86 percent of Ravenna taxpayers live outside the city. However, without the income tax, city officials have said water rates may rise.
"People who come into our city to work are already paying their fair share," Utilities Director David Merleno said. "But if not, the residents are going to have to pick it up."
The committee will meet in the weeks ahead to design a brochure to distribute to residents, a yard sign and advertisements to run in April.
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Email:
dsmith@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-298-1139