Special to 1808Delaware
From the City of Delaware:
City of Delaware voters will see two local issues on the November 5 ballot, a proposed change to the income tax rate and changes to the city charter.
The City Council has proposed an increase in the municipal income tax rate from 1.85 percent to 2.30 percent. If approved, it will be the first change in the city’s income tax rate in 14 years and is expected to generate an estimated $7.6 million annually. The funds are earmarked exclusively for street repairs, building maintenance and capital improvements.
At its June 24 meeting, the City Council passed legislation to bring a question before the electorate. Additionally, Council passed a resolution declaring its intent to increase the income tax credit paid to other municipalities from 50% to 65% with a successful ballot issue and, if the issue fails, eliminating the income tax credit paid to other municipalities.
The city’s primary revenue source is income tax, not property tax. This distinction is significant because, unlike property taxes, which primarily fund schools, libraries and support agencies, income taxes directly support city services and infrastructure.
The city has resources to help residents understand the details of the proposed tax increase and its implications at this link: www.delawareohio.net/taxproposal.
Also, on the ballot will be recommendations from the 2024 Charter Review Commission. Pursuant to the Delaware City Charter a Charter Review Commission is convened every eight years to review the Charter – or city constitution – and make recommendations to be submitted to the voters; 2024 is a Charter review year.
The Commission recommendations include 18 changes to the current Charter, which fall into three categories: substantive, clarification, and style/cleanup. Substantive changes add delete or shift procedures, mandates, or approval authority; clarification changes clarify existing sections by improving confusing or ambiguous Charter sections; style/cleanup changes are simple changes to style or wording, with the goal of making the document more readable, understandable, and consistent where similar language is used in multiple sections. Residents can read in detail about the proposed changes at this link.
