03/03/2024
Please let us provide answers to a couple of recurring questions.
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐?
Fire/EMS โ We do not have a proper decontamination system for our first responders. We also do not have equal male/female sleeping quarters for Fire/EMS. This is a federal requirement that we are not meeting. The fire station on Main Street has no sleeping quarters at all. Our Fire/EMS team deserves these basic necessities. The new Fire/EMS building will address these issues. Additionally, consolidating the two current stations would help reduce extensive overtime and improve morale.
Police - The space originally built for 10 police officers currently serves 37 (plus dispatch). It has no holding cell, no separate place to detain, interview or separate criminals from victims and no gender equality for overall facilities. Officers are using storage spaces as offices.
If youโd like to tour any of these facilities, we can help arrange that. Please message us or get in touch with your council person.
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ผ๐น?
The current PVC pool liner (the ongoing repair issue at Dogwood Pool) is under warranty through 2026. After that, repairs will become very costly. Administration and Council have said that passage of Issue 7 will allow a commitment to a city owned public pool after 2026. The pool in 2027 will likely be a rebuild including new features, zero depth entry, and greater efficiency in all ways. Itโs important to note that the councilperson who chairs parks and recreation for Council is incredibly committed to a city owned public pool. Passage of Issue 7 will make the ongoing costs of running a pool sustainable without an additional levy.
Note: most municipalities have levies for property tax funding for police and parks. North Canton does not. These expenses come directly out of our general fund (which is funded by income tax revenue).
๐๐ณ ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ ๐ณ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐๐ปโ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐, ๐ต๐ผ๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ?
City Administration will ask City Council to rescind the reciprocity credit for those living in North Canton, but working in another municipality. Currently, the City of North Canton receives $0 in income tax from those individuals. If Council agrees to eliminate reciprocity, these people will pay income tax to the city they are employed AND 1.5% to North Canton. Taking this step, would generate an estimated $2.8 million annually (nearly $1 million less that the 1/2% income tax โ issue 7 โ will generate). That $2.8 million would allow the Fire/EMS building project to move forward. It would not generate enough funding to allow confidence in repair/rebuilding a public pool.
There is no guarantee that City Council would have a majority vote to rescind reciprocity, at which point, several city services and improvements would be in jeopardy.
๐ช๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ ๐ณ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐?
Yes. Those without earned income do not pay income tax, so passage of Issue 7 will not cost them anything. And as a result of Issue 7 passing, the current streets levy (paid by property owners) will be eliminated, so retirees who own property in the City will see a reduction in tax costs. If Issue 7 doesnโt pass, the streets levy will need to be renewed.
๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐บ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ?
Yes! Please message us with your address.
