Martins Ferry income tax increase dies on council floor
City still faces costly repairs, growing infrastructure needs
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MARTINS FERRY -- An effort to double Martins Ferry's city income tax died Wednesday when no council member seconded Gus Harris' motion to approve the proposed increase following its third reading.
Harris had led the effort to increase the tax from 1% to 2%, calling the additional revenue necessary despite repeatedly saying he hated the idea of asking residents to pay more.
The legislation would have dedicated revenue from the additional 1% exclusively to permanent improvements, providing the city with a dedicated source of money to address its financial struggles and pay for repairs and replacement of aging infrastructure.
Wednesday's demise of the legislation on the council floor marked the second time in recent months that an attempt to increase the city income tax has gone nowhere. Council let a similar measure die in August after it was realized that the third reading necessary to pass it would come after the board of elections deadline to place the measure on the November ballot.
But while the proposed solution failed, the financial problems it was intended to address remain -- including some that cannot wait.
Among them is a slip along North Ridge Road that officials say needs immediate attention because the road provides the only way in and out for residents who live there.
City Services Director Andy Sutak said additional geotechnical drilling was needed for the project, which is now expected to cost about $954,000. With emergency management funding covering a portion of the work, the city's share is expected to be about $318,000.
Sutak said the city has encumbered about $250,000 for the project but remains an estimated $60,000 to $80,000 short.
"Let me be clear on this: If we did not get that funding, we would have over a million dollars to fix the issues, and the road would continue to deteriorate, break off and fall away," Sutak said. "I know people are upset. They want it done this way, but we only have X amount of dollars, and we should feel blessed that we at least got close to a million dollars in funding. If not, I'm not sure where we would go."
Council also again discussed repairs needed at Martins Ferry's approximately 110-year-old municipal building, including its deteriorating roof. Officials learned that a potentially less expensive option involving the application of spray foam would not be feasible.
"Again, it comes down to money," Mayor John Davies said. "The roof is another $1 million project."
City Fiscal Officer Jack Regis said the amount of money already being directed toward streets and sewers leaves the city with little available to tackle the municipal building.
"We have so much money going into the streets and the sewers there's nothing left to do anything with this building right now," Regis said. "You are down to just the $200,000 surplus in the general fund. We want to be over $300,000 at the end of the year, and we are going to struggle to get there. The funds are just not available right now."
Regis said he hoped the city eventually would reach a point where other expenses ease enough to allow money to be directed toward the building.
"Maybe when things slow down, but it never seems like it's slowing down," he said. "It always seems like things are going faster. Maybe when things slow down, but right now there just are not any funds."
Meanwhile, council agreed to move forward with an approximately $40,000 roof repair at the city's recreation center.
A leak over the dining area has prevented the city from renting out that portion of the recreation center. Council approved using money from the city's recreation fund to pay for the work.