Safety tax increase earns voter approval

COSHOCTON – Coshocton residents raised their own income taxes by 0.5 percentage point Tuesday to pay for law enforcement, safety and security.

Mayor Steve Mercer said he plans to meet soon with city officials, council members and County Sheriff' Tim Rogers to start mapping out a plan for the future.

"This means we'll go to work to make this work for us. It's going to help stabilize and set us up for years to come," he said.

Unofficially, Tuesday's primary election saw 652 residents favor the tax increase, while 585 voted against it, for a margin of 52.7 to 47.3 percent. Final numbers should be available by May 20, said Stephanie Slifko, director of the Coshocton County Board of Elections.

The increase will raise about $1.4 million annually and will cost $2.40 a week for residents earning an annual salary of $25,000, or $4.80 weekly on a $50,000 salary.

Rogers has said voter approval will help him increase staffing and services in his office, which provides law enforcement services for the city under an annual contract.

"I'm very thankful for the community support for the income tax," he said. "I look forward to meeting with the city and discussing the future contract."

The current contract costs $1,438,040 this year, Coshocton City Auditor Sherry Kirkpatrick said, and covers policing services, solid waste and code enforcement.

Approval of the increase should help the city offset the estimated $600,000 annual revenue lost through state cutbacks in local government funds and estate taxes, Kirkpatrick has said. Tuesday's vote will help free up general fund money to meet other needs, she said.

On Tuesday, only 1,237 of the city's 7,267 registered voters — for a 17.3 percent turnout — cast ballots in an election with only two issues. Voters also approved a 1-mill permanent improvement levy for the Coshocton County career center.

Mindy Brems, of Coshocton, voted in favor of the city tax increase.

"I think they're stretched too thin," she said. "I think they're doing the best they can, but I think they can do better with more resources available."

jwilliams6@coshoctontribune.com

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