The City of Shelby had three levies on the Nov. 4 Richland County ballot. Their appeal for an income tax for safety forces failed; but renewal levies for the city Health Department and the city parks both passed.
The city asked for, but lost, a .2 percent income tax levy for three years for the purpose of maintaining safety forces, specifically for fire and police department line items. The two departments are paid out of the city’s General Fund and represent 75 percent of the total General Fund budget.
Unofficial results indicate the levy failed by a 59.09/40.91 percent margin.
“Our general fund has been hit by local government cuts, investment income, estate taxes have gone away; so our revenue streams have really gone down over the last, probably three years,” stated Shelby Mayor Marilyn John. “They’ve been going the opposite direction. When you’re trying to come out of the Great Recession, and you’re faced with other revenue sources that are deducted; and income tax is already down because of high unemployment and those kinds of things–but at the same time to get the state budget in line, there were a lot of cuts that were made to local government. Plus investment income is down across the board for everyone: businesses, governments, individuals.”
“So trying to bounce back from all that—this was the city council’s response to that and we gave it a try and we’re going to have to go back to the drawing board and see where we go from here,” added John.
Shelby renewal levies included a 1 mill tax levy for five years for the city parks; the levy passed. This was the second renewal of the levy that first passed in 2005. The park levy garners approximately $122,000 each year. The money is used for Shelby’s six city parks, which include the new and developing Blackfork Commons, as well as the cities ball parks and Seltzer Pool.
The renewal of the 1 mill, 5-years, Department of Health General Operating levy also passed. Shelby Community & Economic Development Coordinator Christina Thompson explained that by charter the city is required to have a health department. Shelby’s Health Department’s health commissioner is Dr. Ajay Chawla. The department covers a range of services from school and restaurant inspections to animal bites.
For the complete and latest results for candidates and issues visit the Richland County Board of Elections website.