PORTAGE – Village council took the formal steps last week to put two money issues on the May 3 ballot.
Special meeting were held Jan. 24 and Thursday to put a .5-percent income tax and a 1.6-mill streets levy
before voters.
The issues, which are both for five years, are needed to plug a $193,000 negative balance and get out of
fiscal emergency with the state. The village has been under the Ohio auditor’s watch since April 2009.
"We’re just asking for a little bit of help to get us back on our feet," said Mayor Mark
Wolford.
This is the second time council has asked voters for assistance with the debt. Last May, a 1-percent
income tax request failed by 81 percent.
"We lost by 86 votes, so if can change 50 voters’ minds and show them that we are trying,"
Wolford said.
Council is hoping the incentive of some police protection will sway voters.
"If the half-percent income tax passes, the village is going to spend no more than $5,000 a year on
some type of law enforcement, the mayor said. "By offering the little bit of police protection, at
least we’re giving them something."
If the tax passes, council could hire a town constable for a few hours per week or contract with the Wood
County Sheriff’s Office for additional patrol. Portage’s police department was cut in December 2009 to
save money.
"I’m hoping it will at least encourage the ones who live on Main Street," Wolford said of
voters who are contending with increased traffic and higher speed limits since a traffic light was taken
out last year.
"There are a lot of residents on (Ohio) 25 that can’t get out of their driveways and worry about
trucks going by at 65 mph that rattle the whole house."
The .5 percent income tax will raise approximately $32,000. Council enacted a 1-percent income tax in
January 2009, which did not need a citizen vote.
The 1.6-mill streets levy would bring in $10,291, the mayor said. The money is needed to fill a deficit
in the streets fund and also to pay for sewer repairs on Route 25 that have been neglected. The owner of
a home valued at $100,000 in the village would pay approximately $160 a year for the streets levy.
The mayor said last week’s special meetings were needed to meet the Wednesday deadline to get issues on
the May 3 ballot. In November, a state oversight board approved a five-year plan to get the village out
of fiscal emergency, which included the levy issues.
If both taxes fail in May, ballot language to dissolve the village could appear on the November ballot.
