MOUNT VERNON — Councilman Sam Barone said he’s heard residents’ concerns about how council will spend the new tax levy money and wants to reassure them that council intends to pay attention to deferred maintenance.
Speaking during a Finance and Budget Committee meeting on Monday, Barone thanked those who voted for the ½ percent income tax increase.
“In this day and age, it isn’t typical to pass an income tax levy on the first try, even though it had been 34 years,” he said, adding that he is delighted that incoming council members will not have to grapple with that issue.
Now that some of the burden on the general fund is relieved and a full 1 percent will go to fire and EMS, Barone said he didn’t want to miss “this golden opportunity to make a serious commitment” to fulfilling promises to the voters. He advocated for swift movement in filling a vacant position in the police department and adding three additional firefighters.
“I will be extremely disappointed if I don’t see at least one brick project this summer,” he said. “We need action in that area, we need action in a lot of areas.”
Decades ago, city council adopted legislation prescribing 4 percent to cemeteries, 3 percent to streets and 10 percent to capital improvements. Barone said council needs to have a conversation about increasing the percentage of money allocated to those funds, as well as creating a rainy day fund. He urged council to meet soon to have that conversation so that council can provide guidance while the city department heads are writing their 2018 budgets.
“I think it’s a shame we don’t have a trust fund, a rainy day fund,” he said. “If I were a member of the voting public, I would feel better to know we were allocating money to infrastructure and roads.”
Council will meet Monday, Dec. 4 to discuss what the appropriate allocation percentages might be. The work session will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the downstairs conference room of City Hall. Incoming council members and community members are invited to attend.
Historic Tax Credit
In the legislative portion of its meeting, council passed a resolution supporting the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program which the U.S. Congress is considering ending. A Reagan-era program, the tax credit provides incentives for private investment to revitalize vacant and blighted historic buildings.
“If not for the historic tax credit for the Woodward Opera House, we might not be here tonight,” said Mayor Richard Mavis in a separate Finance and Budget Committee meeting.
Barone said the program has provided $28.2 billion in tax credits and generated $29.8 billion in revenue.
“We’re talking about eliminating a program that has been a net gain for the government,” he said. “This is not the place to be cutting.”
He requested council suspend the required three readings of the support legislation and pass it as an emergency. Councilwoman Nancy Vail said she thought that was premature, saying she thinks there is greater power not just trying to keep every program but by being selective.
“It’s making its way through the Senate and House committees,” replied Barone. “I don’t see where it makes any sense to delay comment on this program.”
“I don’t see that waiting would help,” agreed Councilman John Booth. Council President Bruce Hawkins concurred.
Auditor Terry Scott said another bill making its way through House and Senate committees would take away the city’s ability to refinance debt. “These issues are all wrapped together. This is a fast-track item,” he said. “[The historic tax credit] is very important to our community and other communities. Congress made $2 billion on it; that’s a pretty significant number. And refinancing has no impact on the federal government.”
Barone also challenged Vail’s comment about being selective on which programs the city voices an opinion. “I think we owe it to our community to weigh in on everything,” he said.
Scott receives award
Also during the regular legislative session of council, Tim Kraft of the State Auditor’s Office presented Scott with the Auditor of State Award with Distinction.
“This is starting to become my yearly trip,” Kraft told council. “The state of Ohio has over 5,800 public entities; the state auditor’s office audits all of them. Right around 5 percent receive this award. Terry has received this award a number of times, which is a problem for council because you are going to have to get him a bigger wall.”
This is the 19th year Scott has received the award.
Councilman John Francis read a proclamation honoring the 100th anniversary of the Lions Club International. The Mount Vernon Lions Club was established in 1970.
In other business, council passed legislation renewing membership in the Regional Planning Commission, transferring funds, allocating appropriations and paying a late bill. Council members gave a first reading to legislation authorizing the purchase of three new police cruisers.
Update on construction projects
During a Streets and Buildings Committee meeting, City Engineer Brian Ball updated council on the Coshocton Avenue/Verndale Drive and Mount Vernon Avenue construction projects.
The Coshocton Avenue/Verndale project is still on track for completion around Dec. 15. Excavation is complete and the foundation in place. Crews will pour concrete in 40-foot sections for the road bed; Ball anticipates the concrete work to be completed by Thanksgiving. He said he is confident that the completed project will alleviate traffic problems in the area but also noted that computer monitoring has shown drivers are not reacting quickly to green lights due to talking on their cell phones.
The Mount Vernon Avenue bridge replacement project will start in 2019. Ball said the Ohio Department of Transportation will bid the project in early spring. Construction will begin on the south lane and include a multi-purpose path south of the roadway; traffic will be maintained in the north lane.
As the new bridge section is completed, traffic will shift to the south lane while the north lane is being built. When completed, the roadway will include a left turn lane onto Cougar Drive and a left turn lane onto Lower Gambier Road.
