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    • North Canton voters reject fire bonds and road taxes
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    North Canton voters reject fire bonds and road taxes

    Harry Posted on

    NORTH CANTON – Voters rejected a bond tax to fund a new fire station and road tax increase.

    In unofficial results, the proposed 25-year, 1.97-mill fire department bond tax was rejected by 234 votes. The preliminary total was 4,862 opposed, or 51.23%, and 4,628 in support, or 48.77%.

    The five-year 1 million renewal and 1 million road tax increase were both defeated by a much wider margin of 930 votes.

    Opponents of a tax increase to cover the cost of repaving roads won with 5,232 against, or nearly 55%, and 4,302 with 45% support.

    It’s been several years since North Canton voters last agreed to raise city taxes, whether it’s income tax or property tax. City voters in March 19 primary election Rejected proposed 0.5% income tax That rate was increased to 2% to help pay for the fire station, road renovations and a host of city priorities.

    Now the City Council faces more difficult budget decisions.

    Reaction to rejection of North Canton tax request

    Councilor Stephanie Werren, At Large, said: “I am very disappointed. To be honest, I can’t find words.”

    He said he thought supporters were doing everything they could, such as holding open houses, preparing a detailed plan for building the fire station, sharing information about the city’s finances and bringing in a consultant to assess the city’s firefighting and paramedic needs.

    “The only thing going through my mind is, what could we have done differently?” Werren said. When I look at the population, I think inflation is hitting them. I think they’re feeling the pinch with school taxes. It’s hard to keep asking. We know this.”

    Werren said voters in the city were willing to approve higher taxes to fund North Canton schools, but they did not approve the city.

    So what will the municipality do to fund road paving and the fire department?

    “I have no idea about that,” Warren said.

    If voters had approved Issue 9, the fire bond tax measure, $16 million would have been raised to build a new city fire station at North Main and Viking Street NW. It would generate $1.02 million in annual revenue; This would be enough to repay $16 million in principal plus interest.

    Starting next year, the cost would be about $69 per year for every $100,000 of your home’s appraisal.

    If the road tax, known as Issue 10, were approved, additional revenue of $648,000 per year to $1.037 million per year would be generated for road resurfacing and maintenance. Costs to own a $100,000 home would increase by $47.73 per year, to $70.

    North Canton voter response

    The line of voters stretched out the door at the polling place at the North Canton Civic Center Tuesday evening. The parking lot was almost full.

    Development specialist Kaitlyn Contreras, 35, said she voted for the fire department bond tax after taking a tour of the fire station during the Main Street Festival in August. He thought the bedrooms were inadequate.

    “I felt like they (firefighters) were working hard and doing a job that I didn’t want to do, so I felt like they deserved to have a (nice) place to stay when they weren’t home,” Contreras said.

    Contreras said he voted for the road tax because he thought it was important to maintain the good condition of the city’s roads.

    Nurse Megan Nigro said she voted for the fire department bond tax because she always votes to support firefighters and paramedics.

    Relating to: North Canton officials reveal more details about new fire station

    Relating to: Voters overwhelmingly reject North Canton’s income tax increase

    Contact Robert at [email protected]. x old Twitter: @rwangREP.

    Harry
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