Warren council puts 5-year income tax increase on November ballot

August 8, 2016 at 5:44p.m.

WARREN

City council, by an 8-1 vote Monday, approved placing a half-percent income tax increase on the Nov. 8 ballot, but amended the ordinance to limit the tax hike to five years.

The city has projected a budget shortfall as high as $1.7 million in 2017. Up to 20 police officers and firefighters could be among the employees who would likely be laid off without a tax increase, according to Enzo Cantalamessa, safety-service director.

“This is a financial tragedy” for the city, said Eddie Colbert, D-at large, who is finance committee chairman.

“We have five years to prove ourselves to (the voters),” said Helen Rucker, D-at large. “Anyone to say that we didn’t see this coming isn’t telling the truth,”

Mayor Doug Franklin said he supported the five-year limitation because it provides a level of “accountability” for the city.

Voter approval would increase the current 2 percent income tax to 2.5 percent from 2017 through 2021, and generate from $3.5 million to $4 million annually. Cantalamessa said last week that the additional revenue could enable the city to hire 16 to 24 new police and firefighters.

The lone dissenting vote came from John Brown, D-3rd, who has been a vocal opponent of the tax hike since the proposal was first presented two weeks ago. Brown has questioned why safety forces should bear the brunt of the layoffs.