Issue 28 - Oberlin One-Fifth Percent Earned Income Tax Levy to fund Infrastructure Improvements

Recently, early voting began for the November 4 General Election.  Some voters are not yet aware of Issue 28, a tax levy for the City of Oberlin to provide for funding for infrastructure improvements.  Here are some facts about the levy.  

Purpose:  The proposed ten-year, one-fifth percent earned income tax levy will provide the City with revenue for the following capital improvement programs effective 1/1/2009 through 12/31/2018.  These particular efforts/projects would be funded, wholly or in part, by the levy.  

The proposed plan is expected to raise $5 million over ten years.  We intend to use the funds for the following improvements:

Fire Station Upgrade Debt Service ($1.225 million over 10 years) – Provide a safer working environment for Oberlin firefighters by renovating and upgrading the 30+ year old fire station. Ensures Oberlin firefighters have safe, adequate facilities to conduct training and store emergency vehicles/equipment.  The current station is too small; it cannot keep pace with the growth in service demands and operational requirements, and does not meet current codes and safety/health standards.  Debt service from the levy will pay for part of the construction cost of renovations and upgrades of the Oberlin Fire Station.  If the levy is approved, the City would also use existing City reserve funds to pay for part of the construction cost of the Oberlin Fire Station renovation and expansion. The amount of levy proceeds used for the fire station improvements will vary depending on how much reserves are available and how much the city can raise from other sources.

Street Repair/Preventative Maintenance ($2.25 million over 10 years) - This would fund more aggressive pavement maintenance and repair to extend the life Oberlin streets and help to get ahead of rising petroleum costs that make pavement repair more expensive.  This may include funding for replacement of underground utilities or stormwater improvements related to street repair/replacement project.

Pedestrian Safety Improvements ($250,000 over 10 years) – Funding to repair and install sidewalks in areas of the City that are adjacent to City property and facilitate a program to improve quality and availability of sidewalks in Oberlin. 

Parks/Cemetery Improvements ($325,000 over 10 years) – Includes improvements to the parking lot at the Hamilton Street Recreation Complex, bike trails, playgrounds, cemetery, etc.

General Municipal Facility Repair/Adaptation ($125,000 over 10 years) – Repair and modification to municipal facilities to meet intermediate space needs, until a longer term plan is implemented, and increasing resource efficiency of these facilities.

Park Street Bridge ($100,000) – Provide the local match to State funds for reconstruction of the Park Street Bridge.

Future recreation facilities ($725,000 over 10 years) – Provide funding for the results of the master plan for additional recreation improvements.