Complaint claims Springfield tax committee failed to report finances

A local attorney has filed a complaint against supporters of the proposed Springfield income tax increase, claiming the group failed to report all monetary contributions and expenditures on its campaign finance report.

Springfield attorney Dan Harkins, who also served as the treasurer for the anti-income tax increase group Citizens for Responsible Springfield City Government, filed the complaint today with the Clark County Board of Elections. He’s asked the matter be referred to the Ohio Elections Commission.

PRIOR COVERAGE: Springfield leaders say tax hike needed, opponents say it's too much

The complaint alleges the Board of Elections received reports of a $500 donation to the committee from AFSCME Ohio Council 8 on Sept. 30 and another $500 donation from Dayton-based McGohan Bradender Agency Inc. on Oct. 7 – but those were never reported by the committee.

Expenditures for campaign materials purchased by the committee posted in Springfield also weren’t reflected in its campaign report, the complaint alleges.

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Violation of election falsification is a fifth-degree felony, according to the Ohio Revised Code.

Springfield will likely cut services and some police officers may be pulled off the streets after voters appeared to have narrowly rejected a request to increase the municipal income tax last week.

The proposal to raise the city’s income tax from 2 percent to 2.4 percent fell short by 55 votes, according to final, unofficial results. It could face a recount — or even pass — depending on the outcome of about 1,500 provisional and absentee ballots still to be counted.

The income tax hike would have generated $6.7 million annually. For a worker making $30,000 a year, the tax would have cost an additional $9.75 per month.

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