Pemberville: Council weighs another tax request

By: 
Larry Limpf

News Editor
news@presspublications.com
Members of Pemberville Village Council anticipate a third reading of an ordinance to place an income tax levy on the May ballot will be heard at council’s Feb. 4 meeting.
 
If a council majority agrees to place the levy request on May 6 ballot, voters in the village will then decide for the second time in seven months whether or not they want to increase the municipal income tax from 1 percent to 1.5 percent.
 
Voters in November rejected an increase of 0.5 percent in the tax by 105 votes: 326 For to 431 Against.
 
Currently, revenues from the 1 percent tax are divided into the general fund, which receives 60 percent, and the permanent improvement fund, which receives 40 percent.
 
The general fund covers operations of the police department, maintenance and fuel of village-owned vehicles, wages, office supplies, insurance and other expenses.
 
Permanent improvements include expenses for maintaining and improving buildings, streets, parks, and other assets that last more than five years.
 
An informational flyer distributed to residents prior to the November election states that revenues to the general fund in 2023 reached $435,722; about $35,635 less than was spent from the fund - with the difference being made up by a carry-over from the preceding year.
 
The problem the village is facing has been with general fund revenues slipping, making it more difficult for the fund to have carry-over surpluses.
 
While the village isn't insolvent, we simply need to rebuild this fund so we can do the things that need to get done, the flyer states.
 
It is harder to 'set aside' the funds to do the things that need to be accomplished in the village.
 
Things like purchasing vehicles, resurfacing roads or even properly repairing them to name a few.
 
On top of that, costs have increased dramatically.
 
For example, the village insurance costs. In 2005, costs were $63,264, but in 2023, the cost was $108, 498, a whopping 71 percent increase.
 
That is just one way increased costs have affected the general fund. Patricia Rollins, a member of village council, said a more detailed flyer will be distributed if council votes to place the issue on the May ballot.
 
The village has been collecting the income tax since 1976, but sources of revenue for the general fund have fallen over the years, including the 2008 closing of the Modine Manufacturing Co. plant.

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