Who pays for the raise?

Had Youngstown Mayor George McKelvey and the city's police and fire unions gone to the voters in November 2002 and said, "We need to pass a half-percent increase in the income tax so that we can give our police officers a pay raise, " how would the voters have responded?
Would 12,775 residents, most of whom probably make less than the average police officer, have voted to make Youngstown the city with the highest municipal income tax rate in Ohio had they been told that the priority of the police officers was more money for them?
Would radio talk show hosts have jumped on the tax increase bandwagon to fund a pay raise?
We doubt it. Youngstown taxpayers approved an increase from 2.25 percent to 2.75 percent because they were told the money was needed to keep police officers on the street and firefighters fighting fires.
Freeze rejected
City firefighters agreed to a pay freeze for 2004, but police officers, through their union, took their case to arbitration. Last week, an arbitrator told them what they wanted to hear. They will get 2 percent raises, retroactive to December 2003, and heftier raises the next two years. Estimated cost to the city: $500,000.
The first thing the city did when the tax passed was recall firefighters and police officers who had been laid off. As the city struggles to find the additional money the arbitrator has ordered it to pay the police, the city should act accordingly.
It was the choice of the police union to pursue a pay raise, knowing that the money for a raise wasn't there. If the result is that some young police officers must be laid off so that veteran officers can put another $20 or so in their pockets each week, that's between the young cops, the old cops and the union leaders.
City taxpayers did their part, and got little thanks.