DELAWARE, Ohio (WSYX) — The city of Delaware is making another attempt to pass a new tax levy after a previous effort failed earlier this year. Voters will see the levy on the ballot in November, which would generate $7.6 million for the city’s infrastructure by increasing the city’s income tax rate to 2.3%.
In March, voters turned down a levy that would have increased the rate to 2.2%. City officials are hopeful that this new proposal will pass, allowing for much-needed repairs to streets and other infrastructure.
Evan Shaw, a lifelong Delaware resident, said he hasn’t noticed significant issues with the streets.
“I’ve never noticed a huge issue, necessarily,” he said. “I’ve lived here all my life, so it’s never been a problem for me.”
However, city officials disagree, pointing to streets with potholes and crumbling pavement as evidence of deferred maintenance.
“We’ve been kicking the can down the road, and at some point, it’s just like the roof on your house; eventually, you’ve got to replace the roof,” Cory Hoffman of the Delaware City Council said.
The proposed tax increase would raise the city’s income tax from 1.85% to 2.3%, with the additional funds earmarked for roads and capital improvements. The city council is also offering a deal to the 80% of residents who work outside the city. Currently, these residents receive a 50% credit on taxes paid to other cities. If the income tax increase passes, that credit will increase to 65%.
“We compromised,” Hoffman said. “Let’s increase the credit up to 65% and hope that this works.”
If the levy fails, council members have indicated they will seriously consider eliminating the credit for taxes paid to other cities. Shaw, a teacher, understands the importance of supporting local taxes but feels conflicted about the city’s approach.
“It seems like every year there’s just another bill in the mail and prices just keep going up, but I want to support the city of Delaware and whatever they need,” Shaw said. “Yeah, it feels like definitely a threat. I don’t really like being pressured one way or the other, but yeah, that certainly feels like a threat.”
Hoffman responded to these concerns, saying it is not intended to look like it’s threatening voters.
“It’s saying these are the choices really,” Hoffman said. “We don’t want to sugarcoat it and make it seem like we can just keep continuing to defer our capital expenditures.”
Voters will make their decision in a little more than a month.