Votes now must be cast by absentee ballot and returned by April 28.
“Our sole focus right now is making sure the city is running as smoothly as possible in this crisis,” said Fairborn spokeswoman Meghan Howard.
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Fairborn is asking residents to approve an income tax increase to maintain police and fire operations. The fire and police departments haven’t determined what exactly they will use the additional money for, but said they would like to hire additional personnel.
“We hope that through all this, our residents see the value of those first responders,” Howard said. “They are truly essential. From a city government perspective, right now, they are on the front lines of this city.”
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City Manager Rob Anderson said the money generated from the additional income tax would be earmarked for public safety operations.
The 10-year levy is on the ballot now, but the increased income tax wouldn’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2021.
Fairborn’s income tax rate is currently 1.5%. The city is proposing levying an additional half a percent, bringing Fairborn’s income tax rate to 2%.
For someone making $50,000, that change would be an additional $20.83 per month. That adds up to an additional $250 every year for 10 years.
The additional half-percent income tax would generate about $4.8 million annually.
The income tax would impact people who live elsewhere but work in the city, like Wright State employees.
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Howard said Fairborn has been focusing on keeping various city departments functional during this health crisis.
“We want the (income tax levy) to pass to support our safety operations, but that’s at the bottom of our list right now. We’re really just trying to keep our community safe,” Howard said.
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