Income tax proposals for November ballot on Toledo City Council agenda

​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

On the agenda for Toledo City Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, July 28 at 4:00 p.m. are Resolutions 280-20 and 282-20 which would approve placing renewal of the city’s temporary 0.75 percent income tax, and a new temporary 0.25 percent income tax for roads and bridges, on the November 3 general election ballot. Both proposals would be for a period of four years beginning January 1, 2021, when the current 0.75 percent income tax is set to expire. According to the city, the 0.75 percent income tax would generate $56.8 million annually, and the 0.25 percent income tax would generate $18.9 million annually. While transfer for general fund purposes would continue to be allowed using capital improvement funding revenue generated from renewal of the 0.75 percent income tax, revenue generated from the new 0.25 percent income tax would be placed in a designated fund to be used solely for roads and bridges.

Also on City Council’s meeting agenda are the following:

• Ordinance 257-20 which would transfer to the city rights-of-way in Toledo previously acquired by the Ohio Department of Transportation for the construction of the I-475 interchange at Dorr Street and nearby improvements. The property involved will include local roadways for which the city will have responsibility for maintenance.
• Ordinance 276-20 which would approve $35,000 for the Reinvest Toledo initiative which is aimed at facilitating and enhancing Community Reinvestment Act funding from banks in the city. The funding will specifically help to fund staffing for the program through June 2021.
• Ordinance 286-20 which would allow for an alternate to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals on behalf of the member of the Toledo Plan Commission that is represented on the Board. The alternate would be appointed by the Plan Commission and be required to have a background or specialization in land use planning policy.
• Ordinance 287-20 which would remove the minimum square footage per unit requirement for developments in Downtown Commercial zoned areas, and decrease the minimum square footage per unit requirement in Mixed Commercial-Residential zoned areas.

The public may watch the Council meeting online by visiting https://toledo.legistar.com and scrolling down to the July 28 city council meeting and clicking on “in progress”.

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​​Tim Schneider
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​As Manager for Local Government Advocacy, Tim Schneider advocates for local policies and laws that safeguard and foster a pro-business environment in the Toledo Region. Tim has more than 10 years of legislative and public policy experience with the local, state and federal levels of government.