City transportation levy deserves support

0

The city of Delaware has an income tax levy earmarked for transportation on the Nov. 8 ballot worthy of your support.

The 0.15-percent tax increase is reasonable in our estimation, given the growth of Delaware and the necessity to maintain a good quality of life here.

A transportation levy that addresses both maintenance and improvements would cost a family with a $50,000 household income about $6 per month, or $75 per year. While we understand most families live within a budget, this is a relatively small amount compared with the return on investment.

We believe the city and the Moving Delaware Forward committee have done their due diligence and have communicated with residents in a variety of ways over the past year. They met with more than 30 groups and conducted several public hearings to explain the plan.

The key areas, or priority projects, that would be addressed include The Point, Merrick Boulevard Extension and Valleyside Drive Extension. These projects, according to the city, would expand connectivity and reduce congestion. All three projects would help in different areas of the city.

Delaware is a vibrant city in a growing county and that requires vision from its leaders. The transportation plan, in our view, does that. It addresses both current needs and future development.

Those of us who have sat at The Point during rush hours likely would agree that congestion is a major issue. In fact, a survey the city conducted among residents showed that was a top concern.

Routine street maintenance affects all of us who live and work in Delaware. The levy, if passed, would allow the city to quadruple the amount of funds allocated to resurfacing neighborhood streets. We believe this goes toward maintaining that quality of life aspect that our city offers.

Well-maintained streets also serve as an economic development catalyst. Companies and individuals looking to locate in a city often rank infrastructure high on their list of priorities. A city with a dilapidated streets system isn’t attractive to retailers, industry or a family looking to move north from Columbus.

The city last went to voters in 2010 for a fire levy, and a recreation levy two years prior to that. We have studied the current plans and believe a Yes vote on the transportation levy would truly keep moving Delaware forward.

No posts to display