Council considers tax increase

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The city of Delaware’s elected officials will have the opportunity to ask voters to approve a proposed increase of the income tax at tonight’s City Council meeting in council chambers.

City Council will have the third reading and a public hearing to increase the income tax from 1.85 percent to 2 percent starting next year. One percent of the tax will still go to the general fund, while 0.7 percent and 0.15 percent will also still go towards funding the Fire/EMS and parks and recreation maintenance, respectively. The additional 0.15 percent that the city is asking for will go towards launching its vision to improve the transportation system.

The Moving Delaware Forward project includes more than 50 projects with nine priority projects communicated so far to the public. That includes improvements to the intersection of Routes 36 and 37 (The Point), and building extensions at Valleyside Drive and Merrick Boulevard.

The city now spends $1.92 million for its transportation system with $1.25 million towards resurfacing and $670,000 towards maintenance. City officials have said the tax increase would generate an additional $2.2 million.

Members could decide to vote on the ordinance tonight or go through another reading at the next meeting. The public hearing is scheduled at 7:35 p.m.

In other business, Council will:

  • Vote on a resolution to require property owners to make repairs to sidewalks bordering their respective properties or to have repairs made by the city with associated costs assessed against the property.
  • Establish a public hearing and second reading on July 25 at 7:30 p.m. for a rezoning amendment to the development text for Pulte Homes and its plans at the Communities of Glenross for sections south of Cheshire Road. That area contains 487 single-family lots on about 210.7 acres.
  • Recognize the 2016 Fourth of July Fireworks team
  • Hold a public hearing and third reading of legislation to submit amendments of the city’s charter, recommended by the Charter Review Commission with council approval, to the voters in November.

City Council will meet at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 1 South Sandusky Street.

Transportation improvements

By Brandon Klein

[email protected]

Brandon Klein can be reached at 740-413-0904 or on Twitter at @brandoneklein.

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