A view of the City of Sidney Fire Station No. 1 on Thursday. The city has two income tax levies on the ballot this November, one of which will be used for salaries, benefits and training for public safety workers.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
SIDNEY — The City of Sidney has two levies on the ballot this November, both of which city manager Andrew Bowsher said if passed will directly benefit residents.
These levies are both income tax levies that serve two very specific purposes. They both propose a 0.25 percent increase in taxes added onto the 1.5 percent city taxes that are in place right now.
The first levy is an income tax for public safety, specifically for the police and fire departments.
This money cannot be used for building and instead will be used for salaries, benefits, training and equipment.
Bowsher spoke about the importance of providing resources for the public safety of Sidney.
“Personnel is the top priority and the best asset and resource that the community has,” Bowsher said. “We are a service-oriented organization, as the city, to serve and protect, and to provide services to our community members. That is impossible to do without the individuals that work for us to be able to offer those services and they are the most important aspects of the organization.
“Staff sometimes can seem to be overpaid when they’re not working, but when they’re out saving lives, they’re the most underpaid employee that we could possibly ever have.”
The second levy is another income tax levy specifically designated for streets. This includes construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, as well as maintenance of bridges, curbs, gutters, stop signs and streetlights.
The street budget the city currently has access to has proven to not be enough with the proof being the money taken out of the general fund to subsidize the street fund during any road work.
This levy is being brought to a vote to set a larger fund for the streets specifically to show the community of Sidney exactly where they’re tax dollars are going.
“We decided to make it two different tax issues, one for street, which is where that money was going anyways, and one for public safety… We cannot be more transparent,” Bowsher said.
If both levies pass, the total city tax will go up to 2 percent, which will match or be close to nearby cities and villages (Piqua’s income tax rate is 2 percent, Troy and Anna’s are 1.75).
If only one of the two passes, the total will rise to 1.75 percent and if none pass the city tax will stay at 1.5 percent.
The City of Sidney is also open to questions and encourages citizens to reach out to find out information they need more clarification on.
“I encourage anyone to come see me, talk to me about the budget. Come talk to my staff,” Bowsher said. “You’re always going to feel the burden of taxes on all levels, whether it’s federal, state or local. But your local taxes is where you feel it the most. It’s where you live.”
There is more information, including an informational video, on the City of Sidney’s website.
Reach Sidney Daily News reporter Anna Edmiston at 937-538-4825.
