If Columbus voters reject an income-tax increase on Aug. 4, city leaders say they’ll take another look at taxes and fees that they had previously rejected.

The most likely alternatives to simply cutting $115 million from the budget would mean more $95 tickets for running red lights and fees for city garbage pickup.

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Tax opponents say a proposal to lay off hundreds of Columbus police officers and firefighters if voters reject a city income-tax increase is a scare tactic.

City officials say it’s no idle threat.

“I don’t bluff,” Public Safety Director Mitchell J. Brown said. “We’re not playing poker here. We are now at a stage where we have no other choice.”

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University District Organization releases analysis of neighborhood impact of city income tax proposal

The University District Organization (UDO) has prepared a four-page analysis of the impact of the proposed city income tax increase on the neighborhoods of the University District.

The analysis suggests that if the increase is not approved by voters, among the likely effects will be:

·         Curtailment of some public safety programs, including the closing of the Community Crime Patrol.
·         An increase in litter and illegal dumping, particularly in the alleys of the University District, as the city ends its bulk refuse collection service.
·         Less vigorous enforcement of housing codes due to fewer code enforcement officers.

UDO also is distributing the analysis to residents, property owners and other stakeholders in the University District. UDO also has posted the analysis on its website at http://www.universitydistrict.org/pdfs/tax.pdf .

Founded in 1971, UDO is a non-profit, non-partisan civic organization which provides a variety of neighborhood services in the University District, including planning, management, promotion, communications, and civic engagement.

Aug. 4, Columbus voters are being asked to maintain core neighborhood services, including police and fire protection, by approving Issue 1, the proposed half-percent city income tax increase.

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City leaders are telling voters about the jobs they’ve eliminated and the costs they’ve cut as they pitch Columbus’ first income-tax increase in 27 years.

But for all that miserly talk, some Columbus residents think the city still has money to burn.

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