Officials, volunteers, and some City employees gathered at the closed City of Marion fire station on Bellefontaine Avenue Monday afternoon to launch an effort to pass an increase to the City’s income tax rate. The overriding theme – the extra funds are critically needed to ensure and increase safety for area residents.
Marion City Council voted this summer to place the 0.25 percent income tax increase request on the ballot for the November General Election for voters to decide. City Council members earmarked the increase to specific departments. If passed, the revenue from the increase will go 40 percent to the police department, 40 percent to the fire department, 10 percent to the streets department, and 10 percent to the City dispatch.
City officials say the income tax increase is needed following years of decreasing revenue from a weak economy and continuing cuts in funding from the State of Ohio. More state cuts are expected which will require more cuts to the local budgets that will likely include further reductions in police and fire personnel.
Jody Demo-Hodgins, Executive Director of Crawford-Marion ADAMH Board, recently volunteered to help lead the effort to pass the income tax increase. The campaign is called “A Safer City Marion” and Demo-Hodgins said she got involved because resources are lacking to deal with critical needs, including police and fire protection. She said she sees these needs first-hand through her work at ADAMH, an organization that helps people with drug and alcohol issues.
Lt. B.J. Gruber, with the Marion Police Department, spoke saying he looks at this campaign and income tax increase as a turning point for the community from one that has decreasing safety forces to one where safety is increasing. He reminded those in attendance that there has not been an income tax increase in 25 years.
Gruber emphasized the tax increase is not about new creating new programs or giving raises to current staff. He said the funds realized from the increase would go towards putting more officers on the street. If the increase passes, Gruber said seven additional officers will be hired, including a canine unit.
Gruber acknowledged that the amount of new officers would not bring the department back to full force and it would not be a fix all, but he said it would be far better than the “dangerously low” current staffing.
“We’re here asking for the resources we need to do our jobs,” stated Gruber.
The Marion Fire Department was represented by Captain Wade Ralph who explained that Fire Chief Ralph Zwolle had to recently decide to permanently close the Bellefontaine Fire Station through at least the end of the year. The fire station on Fairground Street is currently open only when there are enough people on duty to staff it and it is closed about half the time.
Ralph said drugs in the community are creating more dangerous situations with fewer people to handle them due to funding cuts. He said there are many days where there are only seven firefighters on duty at one time.
Pointing to the firefighters from Green Camp in attendance, Ralph said the funding cuts not only affect City residents, but impact the ability of the department to provide mutual aid to surrounding areas. He said that Chief Zwolle has promised to reopen all fire stations if the income tax increase passes.
“This City doesn’t need to look like this anymore,” stated Ralph, saying that the community’s kids deserve more for their future.
The A Safer City Marion Committee has two honorary co-chairs – former Marion Mayor Jack Kellogg and former U.S. Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow. Kellogg was in attendance Monday and said the income tax increase is vitally needed for the community.
Kellogg said that cuts to local government funding, added to the weak economy, have required continued cuts to the City’s budget. He said there is nothing left to cut other than personnel within the police and fire departments.
The increase is a small amount of money, Kellogg stated, but will make a big impact on safety within the City of Marion.
Demo-Hodgins explained that the campaign committee is not made up solely by officials and safety forces. She said several business leaders and private citizens have stepped up to volunteer because they are concerned about the direction the safety of Marion is headed. One of those private citizens, Laura Thompson, spoke briefly Monday, and explained that when her home was broken into, where she cares for her disable son, she was angry and wanted to help make a change.
Thompson also said she was in favor of the income tax increase because it doesn’t affect those who are retired or on fixed incomes, pointing out that the tax is only applied to “earned” income.
During a question-and-answer period following the speakers, a resident asked about the closing fire stations, wondering if the closures will become more frequent.
Ralph reiterated his early statements that the stations are open as often as possible based of the staffing available. As for knowing when a station will be open or closed, Ralph pointed to a sign that sits in the Bellefontaine Station entrance saying it is closed.
“When you drive by and see that despicable sign, that station is not open,” stated Ralph.
Following the meeting, Kellogg, a longtime Republican, talked about the local government funding cuts put in place by Republican Governor John Kasich. Kellogg explained that the cuts had also been eyed by Democrats in previous years, but they never instituted them. He said he doesn’t know if the cuts will help or hurt the statewide economy and services, but said it is currently hurting local governments.
“It’s hurting us bad,” stated Kellogg.
A Safer City Marion is looking for more volunteers and help with their efforts to pass the increase. To get involved, or to learn more about their efforts and the tax increase request, you can visit their website www.asafercity.com.
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