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Absent councilwoman delays vote on income tax

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By Tiffany Y. Latta, Staff Writer 9:46 AM Thursday, July 22, 2010

OXFORD — Area residents will have to wait another week to learn whether they will see a quarter percent income tax hike on the November ballot.

City Council was expected to decide Tuesday, July 20, on whether to ask voters to increase the city’s income tax rate from 1.75 percent to 2 percent.

But officials delayed the vote until 7 p.m. July 27 due to the absence of Councilwoman Kate Currie.

Mayor Richard Keebler and others said they want all council members present to vote on the issue.

The income tax rate hike is needed, council members said, to generate $1 million annually for fire, emergency medical services, and general operating expenses. And to help the city out of the red.

“Last year, we estimated that the general fund this year would operate with a $500,000 deficit. We’re operating with a deficit of about $400,000 now,” said Oxford City Manager Doug Elliott.

If council doesn’t put the issue on the ballot or if it fails Nov. 2, Elliott said officials would be forced to make cuts.

“We would have to look at our options. The first thing we would have to cut are capital improvements,” Elliott said.

Elliott and others said Oxford needs to increase its income tax rate to 2.15 percent to meet city financial needs, especially with the fire department operating with only three firefighters and it needs at least two more on staff.

But council members said officials have to be conservative given the poor economy.

“A quarter percent is all we can afford to ask from our citizens. We still hope we can eke out more (fire and EMS) staff members this year, but I don’t think we stand a snowballs chance to get more than a quarter percent increase,” Keebler said.

Greig Rutherford said officials need additional funding sources and asked for Miami University’s help.

He wants MU to charge students a public safety fee because while students bring in funds to the city, they also strain emergency resources.

“We ask that you give this serious consideration and give us some assistance,” Rutherford said.

In addition, council approved an ordinance  4-2 Tuesday that eliminates citations to motorists for missing front license plates as a single offense.

The ordinance will allow police to ticket drivers for missing front plates only if they’re cited for at least one other offense. It also increases the fine for missing plates from $60 to $165.

The ordinance is effective in 30 days.

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