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Mayor Bell urges Toledoans to support Issue 5

If voters approve Issue 5 the administration has proposed and pledged to council that the refuse user fee will be reduced for those residents on a fixed income; the reciprocal tax credit for Toledoans working outside the city will be returned to 100 percent; and a capital improvement program will be maintained.
From a news release:
Transfer of funds will reduce refuse fee and maintain capital program

Mayor Michael P. Bell and various members of Toledo City Council today joined together to urge Toledo voters to support Issue 5 on the May 4 ballot.

Issue 5 is not a tax. The ballot initiative will permit the Mayor and Council to redirect existing funds mandated for the capital improvements fund into the general fund while maintaining a capital program. Toledo residents will not pay any new taxes and there will be no increase in existing taxes.

If voters approve Issue 5 the administration has proposed and pledged to council that the refuse user fee will be reduced for those residents on a fixed income; the reciprocal tax credit for Toledoans working outside the city will be returned to 100 percent; and a capital improvement program will be maintained. Both the refuse fee and reduction of the tax credit were instituted as part of the effort to balance the city budget, which faced a $48 million deficit.

The administration has also proposed an ambitious CIP plan that includes:

  • Work to re-certify the Point Place dike;
  • Purchase of 60 police cars;
  • Construction of a new fire station #6 in east Toledo; and
  • Approximately 87 lane miles of street resurfacing across the city.

Issue 5 is a temporary measure and will expire in December 2010 when the 3/4 percent levy expires. The measure would again require a vote of Toledoans to continue redirecting the CIP funds beyond December 2010.

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