Voters would decide about raising city income tax

On the agenda for the Ironton City Council on Thursday is setting up a special election for city residents to vote about increasing the city income tax fee.

If resolution 19-03 passes, residents would vote on May 14 for a simple question, “Shall the ordinance providing for a 2 percent levy on income tax for general fund expenses be passed?” Voters would either vote for or against it.

The ordinance in question is Ordinance 19-02 which would raise the city income tax from its current 1 percent rate to 2 percent “in order to provide additional revenue” for the general fund.

Also on the agenda will be amending the 2019 temporary city budget, first reading of an ordinance to raise the city income tax from 1 percent to 2 percent, repealing Ordinance 10-75, which requires renters to pay a $100 non-refundable payment to the water department for the installation and/or new service for utilities including water, sewer and sanitation, making property owners responsible for the city utility and municipal monthly fees, establishing a homestead credit for utility and municipal fees and establishing a collection policy for city utility and municipal fees.

On the agenda is a homestead exemption on utility and municipal fees for people 65 and older who are permanently disabled, if they get certificate of reduction of real estate taxes from the county auditor, commonly known as a homestead exemption. They will be charged 25 percent less on their monthly utility bills. The program would apply one to a person’s permanent residence.

Also on the agenda, but tabled at a previous meeting, is establishing a hotel/motel tax of $3.

Before the regular council meeting at 6 p.m., there will be two committee meetings. At 5:30 p.m., the Public Utilities Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. and the Finance Committee will meet at 5:45 p.m.

The Ironton City Council meets in council chambers on the third floor of the Ironton City Center.