×

St. C. Services

In November, voters in the city of St. Clairsville spoke loudly and clearly about their opposition to the proposed 1-percent income tax. Despite urging from city officials that help was needed to maintain city services, the proposal was soundly defeated.

Despite the fact that the city has since passed a .75-percent income tax, which will be implemented in April, the city will still be facing huge hurdles when it comes to revenues.

Recession aside, the state of Ohio is now out to balance its budget on the backs of municipalities and local governments, as St. Clairsville officials say. The state is facing an $8 billion deficit, and the new powers in Columbus are planning a variety of ways to cut spending. Many of those methods include cuts to local government funding.

The state is also eliminating its estate tax, another revenue generator for the city of St. Clairsville.

Operations costs are on the rise, and soon the city’s coffers will be heavily tapped while being meagerly replenished.

All this will result in a reduction of services.

City officials are taking several measures to maintain as many services as possible, to maximize efficiency on a tight budget and plan for deep cuts from the state level.

Unfortunately, the taxpayers of St. Clairsville will likely begin to notice the reduction in services at the same time they begin to pay extra for the new city income tax for the first time.

St. Clairsville has been dubbed “Paradise on the Hilltop.” Beautification has always been brought to the forefront. The city has won awards in the America in Bloom contest and has been named a Tree City USA. There is a sense of pride in the city, but some “luxury” items and services that many people may have taken for granted will likely be going away.

City leaders indicated this week that necessary cuts will be noticeable. Those beautiful hanging flower baskets that lined the streets and the National Road Bikeway gazebo in years past will not be there this year. Street sweeping services will be eliminated to save costs. Street crews and crews for mowing are now at bare bones, meaning workloads will be tackled by fewer employees. It is expected that less work will be accomplished.

Voters in St. Clairsville said “no” to the city leaders’ plan to replenish dwindling revenues. Now city leaders are being forced to show residents what that denial truly means.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today