Niles will make another attempt with a higher-percentage income-tax increase

November 27, 2015 at 10:18p.m.

NILES

Despite a 56 percent margin of defeat in the last general election, the city will make another attempt for voter approval with a higher-percentage income-tax increase than the issue that was rejected.

Council has voted to place a 0.5 percent increase on the ballot in the primary election next March. Earlier this month, voters turned down a 0.25 percent increase by 692 votes. The current income tax rate in Niles is 1.5 percent.

Because Niles is in state-declared fiscal emergency, it must balance the budget each year. The task is more difficult because the tax hike that eventually would have raised as much as $900,000 annually was rejected.

“The difference this time is that the revenue will go strictly to police and fire,” said Mayor Ralph Infante, whose term expires at the end of the year. “That way, we can hopefully free up revenue for other departments paid through the general fund.”