(This narrative has been revised to address errors. Please see the correction below at 4:30 p.m. on May 7.)
North Canton — Residents of the city have voted yes on Issue 4, which will permanently raise the local income tax rate from 1.5% to 2%, beginning January 1st.
As per the unofficial tally, the support for the tax hike amounts to 1,854 votes compared to 1,517 against it.
Following the rejection of tax hikes aimed at funding the fire station in both November and March of the previous year, city officials were elated with Tuesday’s outcomes.
“I’m thrilled. I simply want to express my gratitude to the voters of North Canton for making their voices heard,” stated Mayor Stephan Wilder.
“With the passage of this, the voters are helping to build a community that we all want to live in and (for) future generations. … It’s a good day for North Canton to go forward and continue to provide essential services for our community.”Council President Matthew Stroia, At Large, said, “I’m very excited for the future of North Canton. It was huge. I thought it was a very fair plan we came up with. I thought it helped a lot of people on fixed incomes and seniors who are really struggling as property taxes are going up. Everybody is very excited.”
Every North Canton resident whether they work in North Canton or another city as well as non-residents who work in North Canton will have to pay the 0.5% increase or $5 more for every $1,000 in income. The credit the city gives to its residents who work in other cities remains capped at 1.5% of income.
The tax increase is expected to raise another $3.6 million to $3.7 million a year.
Stroia said after the Issue 4 vote is certified, he will push council to approve legislation by mid-July to fulfill its pledge in February to end the collection of taxes for three levies if voters approved the issue.
This proposed law aims to eliminate the city’s 1.5-mill fire levy and 3.3-mill emergency services levy, which were initially set for their final collection in 2027. Instead, these levies will conclude later this year prior to an increase in income taxes taking effect in January. Additionally, council plans not to pursue renewal or replacement of the city’s 1-mill road levy once collections cease at the end of this year. As a result, approximately $131 annually per every $100,000 of property value would be deducted from North Canton homeowners’ property tax statements. Collectively, these three levies brought in around $2.7 million yearly.
Stroia further mentioned that the council intends to uphold its other obligations. The group plans to permit the city to issue approximately $16 million worth of bonds to financiers for constructing a new fire station located at the intersection of Viking Street NW and North Main Street. Annually, for 25 years, the council has earmarked around $1 million from increased income taxes towards repaying this debt. However, due to financial support pledged by the Hoover Foundation—$750,000 spread across three years—the yearly contribution may end up being somewhat lower than initially projected. Any leftover proceeds from the enhanced income tax rate will go toward sustaining both the fire department’s activities as well as emergency medical services (EMS) operations, along with street maintenance; these efforts aim to compensate for revenues previously generated through repealed levies.
Record of denials in North Canton
The voting takes place on May 6 following this.
51% of city voters
in November rejected a 25-year, 1.97-mill bond levy to finance the fire station. They also declined to replace the street levy. In March 2024,
about 60% of city voters
rejected an increase in the income tax rate from 1.5% to 2%. But that issue came without a pledge by council to end property tax levies.
City officials say the city needs a new fire station because the current two fire stations have vehicle bays that are too small for modern fire vehicles; it’s not efficient to deploy firefighters and paramedics to two locations; the current fire stations lack sufficient space and privacy; and the current fire station lacks equipment to prevent toxic materials from fire sites spreading around the station.
Voters’ views
Phillip Yakunich, 74, a retired postal worker who cast his ballot May 6 at the North Canton Civic Center, said he voted for the income tax rate increase.
“It’s supposed to help reduce the property taxes a little bit,” he said about council’s promise to allow to expire or to repeal fire, EMS and road levies if voters approve Issue 4. “If it passes, they’re going to let three property taxes expire.”
Daniel Anschutz, 42, a chef, said he opposed the income tax hike.
“They made some changes, which I’m happy to see that the city of North Canton is making, but I don’t feel that they made enough changes in the right direction,” said Anschutz. “We are all held accountable for the money that we bring in to pay all our fees the right way.”
Randy Elsass, 65, said he backed Issue 4 to finance the construction of a new fire station.
“If when our female firefighters encounter a blaze that requires foam application or another type of suppression method, they lack facilities for washing up at the current firehouse,” he explained. “In fact, regardless of the temperature, they end up being rinsed down outside behind the structure. They then must walk through the living area to reach their destination and also section off a restroom for changing purposes. This situation shouldn’t persist.”
Sandy Elsass, who is 86 years old and the mother of Elsass, shared that she hesitated to cast her ballot for the proposed income tax raise because she had stopped working. Since this change wouldn’t impact her financially, she initially felt uncertain about voting yes. However, she ultimately decided to support the increased income tax with the hope that it might lead to the expiration or removal of the three pending property tax measures.
“Nevertheless, since I pay substantial property taxes, that motivated me to cast my vote in favor of it,” Sandy Elsass stated.
Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com.
Correction
The proposed 0.5% rise in income tax would generate an additional $5 for every $1,000 earned. In order to construct a new fire station, North Canton plans to take out a loan of $16 million. It should be noted that the previous edition of this piece contained incorrect figures.
The article initially appeared on The Repository.
Leaders in North Canton celebrate as voters pass Issue 4, leading to an increase in income taxes.
