Post by WFD on Nov 10, 2007 13:43:26 GMT -5
Warren tax passes
By STEPHEN ORAVECZ Tribune Chronicle
Tribune Chronicle / R. Michael Semple
Warren firefighter Lt. Bill Gadd, left, and Marc Titus, president of the firefighters union, check election results on a PDA Tuesday evening. The safety forces of Warren got a vote of confidence from the voters who passed an income tax renewal, according to unofficial results. For more photos, visit cu.tribune-chronicle.com.
Results showed the Warren income tax renewal passing with a six percent margin, and firefighter Mark Thigpen said things were looking better.
‘‘Now we’re in good shape,’’ he said, with 88 percent of the vote counted.
Thigpen and about 100 other city workers and officials gathered to await results at DiLucia’s Banquet Room on Elm Road N.E. Tuesday evening, but even with that lead, they hesitated to declare victory until the last vote was counted.
But just before midnight when final results posted, voters had renewed the tax and made it permanent. Unofficial results showed the margin of victory had narrowed to 52 percent voting yes and 48 percent voting no.
The tax was first passed in 2001 and was renewed in 2004. It will raise about $4.5 million this year. That is one-fourth of the $18 million generated by the full 2 percent income tax.
Several voters leaving the polls earlier in the day said they had voted against the levy because they did not think it should be permanent.
Mayor Michael O’Brien said he knew it was a gamble — especially since the city had just one chance for passage. Had the levy failed Tuesday, the tax would have expired Dec. 31 and could not go on the ballot again until the March primary.
‘‘It was a risk,’’ O’Brien said, ‘‘But I felt confident voters would feel safety was a major concern. Rather than go backward, they want to see the city go forward.’’
Several voters who cast yes votes confirmed O’Brien’s assessment in exit interviews. One senior citizen said she voted yes, ‘‘For all those safety reasons.’’
Councilman Andy Barkley, D-3rd Ward, had opposed making the tax permanent because he thought it was a dangerous move.
‘‘It looks like the gamble paid off,’’ he said. ‘‘I couldn’t be more thrilled.’’
Having a permanent tax stabilizes the entire city budget, O’Brien said. That also will mean more and better candidates applying for jobs and a lower bond rating for the city, which will translate into lower interest rates when Warren borrows money.
Had the tax failed, O’Brien said there would be massive layoffs in the police and fire departments, but the effects would have been felt throughout the city. O’Brien had said fewer roads would be paved, fewer houses demolished and there would have been cutbacks in city parks.
Thigpen said nobody in the department wanted to see anyone get laid off. When a budget crunch led to layoffs in 2000, he and other firefighters said conditions were tough.
About 25 firefighters worked the polls throughout the day, passing out literature to potential voters.
O’Brien and Safety-Service Director Doug Franklin also were out most of the day looking for votes. Franklin said he was working his political base, but when he heard turnout was light, he got on the phone and started calling people to come out and cast their ballots — for the tax.
By STEPHEN ORAVECZ Tribune Chronicle
Tribune Chronicle / R. Michael Semple
Warren firefighter Lt. Bill Gadd, left, and Marc Titus, president of the firefighters union, check election results on a PDA Tuesday evening. The safety forces of Warren got a vote of confidence from the voters who passed an income tax renewal, according to unofficial results. For more photos, visit cu.tribune-chronicle.com.
Results showed the Warren income tax renewal passing with a six percent margin, and firefighter Mark Thigpen said things were looking better.
‘‘Now we’re in good shape,’’ he said, with 88 percent of the vote counted.
Thigpen and about 100 other city workers and officials gathered to await results at DiLucia’s Banquet Room on Elm Road N.E. Tuesday evening, but even with that lead, they hesitated to declare victory until the last vote was counted.
But just before midnight when final results posted, voters had renewed the tax and made it permanent. Unofficial results showed the margin of victory had narrowed to 52 percent voting yes and 48 percent voting no.
The tax was first passed in 2001 and was renewed in 2004. It will raise about $4.5 million this year. That is one-fourth of the $18 million generated by the full 2 percent income tax.
Several voters leaving the polls earlier in the day said they had voted against the levy because they did not think it should be permanent.
Mayor Michael O’Brien said he knew it was a gamble — especially since the city had just one chance for passage. Had the levy failed Tuesday, the tax would have expired Dec. 31 and could not go on the ballot again until the March primary.
‘‘It was a risk,’’ O’Brien said, ‘‘But I felt confident voters would feel safety was a major concern. Rather than go backward, they want to see the city go forward.’’
Several voters who cast yes votes confirmed O’Brien’s assessment in exit interviews. One senior citizen said she voted yes, ‘‘For all those safety reasons.’’
Councilman Andy Barkley, D-3rd Ward, had opposed making the tax permanent because he thought it was a dangerous move.
‘‘It looks like the gamble paid off,’’ he said. ‘‘I couldn’t be more thrilled.’’
Having a permanent tax stabilizes the entire city budget, O’Brien said. That also will mean more and better candidates applying for jobs and a lower bond rating for the city, which will translate into lower interest rates when Warren borrows money.
Had the tax failed, O’Brien said there would be massive layoffs in the police and fire departments, but the effects would have been felt throughout the city. O’Brien had said fewer roads would be paved, fewer houses demolished and there would have been cutbacks in city parks.
Thigpen said nobody in the department wanted to see anyone get laid off. When a budget crunch led to layoffs in 2000, he and other firefighters said conditions were tough.
About 25 firefighters worked the polls throughout the day, passing out literature to potential voters.
O’Brien and Safety-Service Director Doug Franklin also were out most of the day looking for votes. Franklin said he was working his political base, but when he heard turnout was light, he got on the phone and started calling people to come out and cast their ballots — for the tax.