Warren officials unveil legislation that would ask voters for half percent income tax increase

Staff report

WARREN

The city administration and Warren City Council discussed legislation Monday that would place a levy on the November ballot, asking voters to increase the city’s income tax by a half percent.

Officials said they don’t know yet how much money it would raise.

Council members, some of whom said they only learned of the proposal a few days ago, said they wanted to see specific statements about how the money would be used before voting on it.

Mayor Doug Franklin, speaking at the finance committee meeting, said it has taken until now to be sure the city would make it through 2016 OK financially, but there’s no more fat to cut.

“We are at the point where we’re no longer in 2017 going to be able to cut the fat. We’ll have to cut services,” he said.

Councilman Dan Sferra said he needs to see more details, such as: “How much are we asking for and exactly what would it be used for? We don’t have enough details.”

Wednesday’s council meeting is the last one scheduled until September because of council’s August break, and the measure needs to be delivered to the Trumbull County Board of Elections by Aug. 9 to make the November ballot, said Safety-Service Director Enzo Cantalamessa.

Finance Committee chairman Eddie Colbert said in order to give the measure three readings, he believes it would be alright to have two special meetings late this week.

Councilman John Brown questioned whether city officials have looked at every cost-cutting measure, such as combining city departments with county departments.

“To bring this in at the last minute ... I think there’s more that we can do,” Brown said.