Hartville officials are calling on voters to approve a 0.5% increase in income tax during the May 4th election.
Hartville’s income tax is currently 1%. The 0.5% increase would generate “approximately $ 850,000” of additional revenue, Mayor Cynthia Billings said.
More:Hartville Council is making a 10-year income tax proposal for a 5-year option
If approved, the tax increase would have a five-year life cycle and would take effect on January 1, 2022.
“It’s just for paving streets,” said Billings. “We have a lot of people complaining about the roads. In five years, if they see the roads being paved, they could renew them.”
Hartville grants 1% credit to villagers who work in other communities where their income is taxed.
“The 0.5% would have no credit, however,” said James “Jim” Sullivan, chairman of the Hartville Village council finance committee. “You pay that increase no matter where you work.”
Hartville raised $ 1.73 million in 2020 through its 1% income tax. Hartville officials recently asked voters to approve an income tax increase in 2019. This question was rejected with 251 votes.
With this current income tax inquiry, “basically we’re going to suffer,” Sullivan said. “It generally takes that long to raise enough money for a paving project.”
Lake Township officials are urging voters to approve a replacement version of the $ 3 million property tax that generates revenue for fire safety. Fire and rescue services in Lake Township are provided by three private companies: Hartville, Uniontown and Greentown Fire Departments.
“We have contracts with them to provide fire services,” said John Arnold, trustee for the Lake Township.
More:Lake Township Trustees agree to collect a 3.0 million replacement fire in May
If approved, the replacement version of the 3 million levy would raise an estimated $ 2.26 million annually over a five-year period. It would cost a $ 100,000 home owner $ 105 a year.
A replacement levy sets the tax rate on the current property valuation. A renewal would keep the tax rate at an outdated rating, which tends to be lower. Owners are therefore expected to pay more with a replacement version of the levy.
“It’s been on for a long time without being replaced,” said Arnold. “Unfortunately everything is getting more expensive. It has to happen at some point.”
The levy currently generates $ 1.68 million annually. And the owner of a $ 100,000 home currently pays about $ 63 a year in property tax for fire safety in Lake Township.
The Lake Township Board of Trustees is the tax authority for the three fire departments.
“It’s a growing community that calls are increasing,” said Tom Wiles, chief of the Uniontown Fire Department. “We always have to be one step ahead of the game. They are building new allotments and businesses.”
In the Marlboro community, trustees are also demanding approval of a replacement version of an existing property tax to aid the community’s police force. This levy, if approved, would raise $ 685,157 annually over its five-year term.
“Our people (cops) need more money,” said Marlboro Township Trustee John Battershell. “The way the cost goes up without the levy, we’ll be in bad shape. We won’t be able to raise salaries. Equipment costs go up every year.”
The owner of a $ 100,000 home would pay about $ 157 a year to support the Marlboro Township Police Levy if approved. The existing version of the property tax brings in $ 562,000 per year. And it costs $ 104 a year for a $ 100,000 home owner.
“We’re one of the worst-paid full-time police departments in Stark County,” said Police Chief Ron Devies. “We haven’t had a new vehicle for three years. Half of my fleet is an aging fleet. I get a lot of things through grants. Grants don’t pay wages, grants don’t buy cars.”
In the case of Marlboro Township, trustees are attempting to merge two existing property taxes to form this replacement version of a 4.5 million levy. One of the existing taxes relates to EUR 3.5 million and the other to a tax of EUR 1 million.
Canton officials are urging voters to renew an existing 5 million property tax that generates $ 3.92 million annually for the city’s park and recreation program.
“It’s not a new tax,” said Doug Foltz, director of Canton Parks and Recreation. “Whatever you pay on your property tax, you will keep paying. This is all of our budget, operations, and capital. It has been a great resource for us. We have about 800 acres total.”
The owner of a $ 100,000 home pays approximately $ 161 in support of the canton levy.
Magnolia officials are urging village voters to renew a 3 million levy that raises $ 36,473 annually for general operating expenses. The property tax is five years. The owner of a $ 100,000 home pays $ 63 a year to support Magnolia property tax.
Without the renewal of this levy, “we would have to look at some things and find out what we are going to do,” said Magnolia Mayor Travis Boyd. “We don’t have a lot of business tax, so that’s crucial.”
BREWSTER – Sgt. Ben Truman has been the Fairless High School’s resource officer since 2007 when the position was part-time.
Truman, a 1984 graduate of Fairless, said the gig wasn’t his dream scenario when he accepted the assignment. However, he has grown into the job and realizes its importance.
“At first it wasn’t my speed, but now it has become more comfortable,” said the sergeant from the school grounds on Thursday morning.
Truman’s position is funded through an existing Brewster income tax levy that is set to continue next month. Voters will decide on May 4th.
“When people see the dark side of the police (this week with the verdict of Derek Chauvin and the death of a teenager involving a Columbus officer), these kids see (in person) what we are about,” added Truman added, who started working for the Brewster Police Department in 1991.
Over the years, Truman said he has advised many students who were having difficult times at home. helped break up dozen of cafeteria and hallway fights; advised teens on the importance of public service (volunteering or the US military) and answered myriad questions about law enforcement in general and as a career.
“This job opened my eyes to how busy the indoor operations of a high school really are,” said the sergeant.
May 2021 tax filing questions
Money to continue to fund road projects and other government operations is being sought through voter approval by several western Stark County governments.
Brewster Village is aiming for a 0.5% renewal of the tax on taxable income, of which 0.2% would go to the Police Department and 0.3% for road maintenance and new construction.
In total, existing tax revenue amounts to $ 400,000 per year, including $ 240,000 for road repairs and $ 160,000 for police equipment – such as body cameras and tools for apprehending suspects – and funding a position as a school officer, said village manager Mike Miller. The same revenue collection format will be retained for the next five years if the levy has expired.
If re-approved on May 4, income tax collection for people working in Brewster would begin in January 2022 for the new five-year cycle.
Only people who work within Brewster village limits pay income tax, Miller said, noting that Brewster Dairy, Shearer’s Foods, and Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway make up the majority of the regional workers.
Navarre tax increase
Voters in Navarre are asked to approve an additional 0.25% increase in income tax on May 4th, bringing the total number of villages to 2%. The income tax of 2% would not be forfeited if approved.
The additional 0.25% would correspond to about $ 185,000 more per year to fund routine village operations, according to Navarre Mayor Bob Benson.
“We have a shortage and we need more for general maintenance,” the mayor said this week.
According to Benson, half of the planned tax revenue will support routine village operations, while 25% will go towards maintaining and improving the roads. Another 25% would be used for capital improvements and equipment.
If passed by the electorate, the survey of the income would begin in July.
Perry, Massillon renewals
In Perry Township, a 2-mill renewal levy will be levied on May 2nd. The five-year action would raise money for road renovation annually.
Perry CFO Craig Chessler said the levy would raise about $ 654,300 a year if passed by the electorate. Funding will help re-emerge about 6 to 7 miles of roads each year.
The city of Massillon will also have a renewal of the road toll for voters. The five-year 0.2% income tax levy would begin collecting in January 2022 if passed by voters.
In August 2016, city voters approved the first measure and increased the municipal income tax rate by 0.2% – from 1.8% to 2% – which began in 2017. In total, the city raised at least $ 1.8 million annually from the tax fund through the early years.
Contact Malcolm at 330-580-8305
or malcolm.hall@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: mhallREP