Council voted 5-0 on Monday to place the levy on the ballot.
The new levy would bring in just over $1 million a year and will be used for general expenses. Annual new tax for the owner of a $200,000 home would be $229. The city allowed a 5.5-mill levy to expire in 2008.
During his State of the City address on Monday, Mayor Bill Duncan told an audience including 6th District State Sen. Peggy Lehner, 41st district State Rep. Jim Butler and Sandra Brasington, a staff member of Gov. John Kasich, that the levy is needed due to several recent state funding cuts to local communities.
Duncan said Oakwood also will need to reduce its local income tax credit in 2014, meaning residents who work in other communities with income taxes will pay more.
He sternly criticized the proposed statewide income tax uniformity bill, saying it would potentially reduce Oakwood revenue by another $400,000 and said Lehner and Butler would have “no opportunity to oppose it” if the measure is folded into the 2014-15 biennial state budget bill.
Dave Dickerson and Bill Frapwell, who are are chair and vice chair of Oakwood’s citizen Budget Review Committee, were appointed co-chairs of a volunteer committee to promote the levy leading up to the election.
City council also approved a resolution to extend a water line to the Old River Sports Complex to irrigate athletic fields that were damaged by drought and heavy use during the summer of 2012.
City manager Norbert Klopsch said the project will be done in two stages, costing $16,200 and $15,750.
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