Editorial: Real work on tax issue begins now

The people of Newark now have an important local decision to make when they vote in the November election.

An oddly split city council voted Monday to place a 0.25 percent income tax on the ballot to fund road paving and repairs and capital purchases for the police and fire departments. Roads would get 60 percent of the funds or $1.5 million, with police and fire getting 20 percent each or about $400,000. Only earned incomes would be taxed, meaning seniors would not pay more unless they work.

We commend Mayor Jeff Hall for presenting this plan to council and the six members who voted yes, including Republican Council President Don Ellington,who broke a 5-5 tie, Republican Ryan Bubb and Democrats Dee Hall, Jeremy Blake, Bill Cost and Carol Floyd.

We're deeply disappointed in Republicans Jeff Rath, Mark Fraizer, Curtis Johnson, Doug Marmie and Democrat Alex Rolletta, who could not muster the courage to put a worthy issue on the ballot for voter consideration.

As we noted a few weeks ago, we're not ready to endorse this issue for voter approval, but we absolutely believe it's the next step in determining how our city moves forward.

Do we let our roads crumble even more? If we're not willing to pay more, what should be cut to provide funding for proper police and fire vehicles? Do we need more safety force personnel, especially in light of recent attacks on police across our country?

Before anyone can really answer those questions, the Hall administration needs to provide far greater detail on how the levy funds would be spent and what budget options would be on the table for 2017 should the levy fail.

For example, would any of the current funds spent on capital improvements in recent years be maintained if this issue passes? Would there be any funds spent on increasing police and fire staffing? How many road miles would be paved each year beginning in 2017?

We ask these questions because of what happened after voters approved the 2001 safety levy designed to expand our safety forces and build new police and fire stations to replace horribly outdated facilities. Unfortunately city leaders in 2002 decided to charge the new safety fund with existing police and fire expenses to help balance the general fund. That can't happen again.

We realize some leaders don't want to appear to be threatening citizens with budget cuts, but voters do need concrete information on the current predicament to make an informed decision.

We urge the Hall administration to expedite a full plan for council review as soon as possible.