North Ridgeville Review The Community That Cares
Two city unions have announced their full endorsement of Issue 8, the proposed income tax levy on the November 4 ballot.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local # 3442, the city’s largest union, along with the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (OPBA), are both urging residents to vote yes on Issue 8.
Issue 8 asks voters to approve a 0.75% increase to the city’s current 1% income tax rate, bringing the total to 1.75%. The proposal also increases the tax credit from 0.1% to 1.0%, so that residents working outside the city will pay less.
Among Northeast Ohio municipalities, only a handful have income tax rates as low as or lower than 1.75%. Most full-service cities in the region collect 2% or more.
Why We Endorse
Police, Fire and Public Works employees play a vital role in keeping our community safe, healthy and running smoothly. This measure will provide needed funding for police, fire, public works and other critical city operations that serve our growing city. The levy will support working families and residents by increasing public safety staffing, investing in infrastructure and meeting other day-to-day community needs. Issue 8 will help maintain high quality of life for all residents.
“We support Issue 8 because we understand the need for this increase on both a professional and personal level,” said Frank Vacha, President of AFSCME Local # 3442. “Professionally, we recognize the importance of maintaining the level of service that North Ridgeville residents expect and deserve. The reality is that quality service comes at a cost and, like everyone else, we’re feeling the effects of inflation. Personally, we want to protect our members’ jobs and ensure the city can continue to provide essential services—the current 1% rate simply isn’t sustainable.”
Call to Action
AFSCME and OPBA encourage all North Ridgeville voters to vote “Yes” on Issue 8. Together, we can responsibly plan and invest in our future.
Citizens for a Safe Community • Political Action Committee
