Warren council gives reading to tax increase for November ballot

WARREN

Residents of Warren who may have learned from the news media Monday or Tuesday that the city is proposing a half-percent income tax increase for the November ballot got almost no explanation for it at Wednesday’s city council meeting.

Council, which discussed it publicly for the first time at Monday’s Finance Committee meeting, gave a first reading Wednesday to legislation that would put the tax hike on the ballot.

Council finance committee Chairman Eddie Colbert, sponsor of the legislation, announced that he will have a finance committee meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday at council chambers, followed by a 6:30 p.m. “special call,” where council members are likely to give a second reading to the legislation.

He expects council to give a third reading soon after Tuesday so that the proposed increase can make it to the Trumbull County Board of Elections by Aug. 10 if council approves it.

Council President Jim Graham urged the public to attend Tuesday’s meeting to learn more about the proposal and participate in the discussion.

But Warren resident Greg Greathouse decried the pace at which the tax-increase proposal was being introduced and considered.

“This very idea of an increase in the tax rate in this city should be presented to council and the entire city in a series of meetings where all aspects of the measure need to be discussed,” he said.