The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees and Toledo Area Small Business Association (TASBA) Board of Directors recently voted to support the City of Toledo Income Tax Renewal that will appear on the March 19 primary election ballot for City of Toledo voters and the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board Levy that will appear on the March 19 primary election ballot for Lucas County voters.
Issues 1 and 2: The City of Toledo is seeking a 0.75 percent income tax renewal and 0.25 percent income tax renewal for a period of 4 years. Revenue generated from the 0.75 percent income tax is distributed with one-third (0.25 percent) designated for police, fire, and safety; one-third (0.25 percent) designated for general fund purposes; and one-third (0.25 percent) for capital improvements. The 0.25 percent is restricted to fund road projects, with an emphasis on residential roads. In 2024, the city is planning to improve 96 roads with this funding.
“The business community understands the need to provide critical safety services and improve our city’s infrastructure,” said Brian Dicken, VP of Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. "While we support the renewal, the Chamber and TASBA boards have an expectation that the City will continue to increase the level of transparency on spending and focus priorities on efforts that will attract and retain both people and businesses."
Issue 8: The Mental Health & Recovery Services Board is seeking a new 1.00-mill, 10-year property levy to replace the existing .5 mill levy which will be allowed to expire on December 31, 2024. The levy will be used to maintain critical services while expanding services to youth, older adults, and individuals involved in the criminal justice system. The Mental Health & Recovery Services Board’s administrative budget accounts for 6.1 percent of expenses. The remainder of expenditures are currently distributed to 27 local organizations that provide mental health and substance use recovery services. These organizations currently serve more than 26,781 Lucas County residents.
“Since the pandemic, mental health and recovery have emerged as critical areas requiring attention, both socially and economically. Increased need for mental health care is straining our capacity at a national level, and we are feeling that locally as well,” said Wendy Gramza, President and CEO of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. "This increase in funding will help bridge that gap, resulting in a healthier, more productive, and prosperous future for our region."
These levies were reviewed by the Chamber's Levy Review Subcommittee, which researches and studies levy requests and makes recommendations to other Chamber committees, culminating with the Chamber and TASBA Boards.
The levy review process ensures that levy requests are examined by a broad cross-section of the Chamber's membership and reflect the views of the business community. The Chamber's comprehensive levy review process includes presentations by the agencies making the request, an examination of the impact of the levy request on both the agency and taxpayers, and a review of agency financials to better understand the need behind the request.
“The business community understands the need to provide critical safety services and improve our city’s infrastructure,” said Brian Dicken, VP of Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. "While we support the renewal, the Chamber and TASBA boards have an expectation that the City will continue to increase the level of transparency on spending and focus priorities on efforts that will attract and retain both people and businesses."
Issue 8: The Mental Health & Recovery Services Board is seeking a new 1.00-mill, 10-year property levy to replace the existing .5 mill levy which will be allowed to expire on December 31, 2024. The levy will be used to maintain critical services while expanding services to youth, older adults, and individuals involved in the criminal justice system. The Mental Health & Recovery Services Board’s administrative budget accounts for 6.1 percent of expenses. The remainder of expenditures are currently distributed to 27 local organizations that provide mental health and substance use recovery services. These organizations currently serve more than 26,781 Lucas County residents.
“Since the pandemic, mental health and recovery have emerged as critical areas requiring attention, both socially and economically. Increased need for mental health care is straining our capacity at a national level, and we are feeling that locally as well,” said Wendy Gramza, President and CEO of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. "This increase in funding will help bridge that gap, resulting in a healthier, more productive, and prosperous future for our region."
These levies were reviewed by the Chamber's Levy Review Subcommittee, which researches and studies levy requests and makes recommendations to other Chamber committees, culminating with the Chamber and TASBA Boards.
The levy review process ensures that levy requests are examined by a broad cross-section of the Chamber's membership and reflect the views of the business community. The Chamber's comprehensive levy review process includes presentations by the agencies making the request, an examination of the impact of the levy request on both the agency and taxpayers, and a review of agency financials to better understand the need behind the request.
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