See a Wellington income tax and a county judge seat

Election issues and candidates around Lorain County offer plenty of opportunity to show patriotism at the polls.

Voters in the village of Wellington are being asked to consider an increase of municipal income tax on the ballot Nov. 6.

The proposed increase would raise the current 1 percent tax rate to 1.75 percent. This would raise an additional net of $750,000 for the village.

Municipal income tax is the primary source of funding for the village’s General Fund and Capital Improvement Fund expenditures. The General Fund supports municipal services such as police and public safety, street maintenance, brush/ leaf pickup, salt/snow plowing and parks and recreation, according to a news release.

“The increase enables the village to provide operational and infrastructure improvements,” said Steve Dupee, village manager for Wellington.

Dupee said the tax increase is needed so the level of services can be maintained.

“The rate has been the same for 46 years,” he said. “At the current rate, expenditures are outpacing revenue. Deficits will result if the increase is not passed. The deficits will lead to financial instability, the inability to maintain and improve infrastructure, and the cuts in services that can be provided.”

If the increase fails, the village projects general fund deficits of $338,044 in 2019, $402,676 in 2020, $421,873 in 2021 and $543,717 in 2022, according to the release.

If the issue passes, new reciprocity will be established with Wellington citizens, according to Dupee.

“Residents of Wellington, who work elsewhere, will pay less, if anything at all, to the village directly,” he said. “We will establish credit for those who work elsewhere with their work municipality.”

Dupee said the agreement is intended to create fairness for residents.

“Currently, village residents have to pay the city where they work and pay the village the $500 annually,” he said. “The new agreement, should the issue pass, will make it so they will pay less, if anything at all, depending on the tax rate of where they work.”

Dupee said if the increase passes, the police department would be relocated.

“The station is currently in the first floor of the village’s town hall (115 Willard Memorial Square),” he said. “They are operating out of a 100 square foot space. They have rooms that serve many purposes. For example, there is a locker room used also for evidence and triples as an interrogation room. We have a location picked out at East Herrick Avenue and have concept plans for remodeling the building.”

Dupee said the village is also looking to turn property they purchased into a park.

“The village owns the land at 201 S. Main St. that used to be the former middle school,” he said. “The new middle school is over there by the high school (at 627 N. Main St.). So there is this green space over there that we have plans to make a passive, walking park. We want to equip the park with a band stand for performances, playground, restrooms, walking path, and common areas. We want to have a nice functional space over there and provide an additional space for events.”

Dupee said another usage of the increased revenue would be road repairs.

“We have a lot of concrete roads in the village,” he said. “We need to determine what roads need the attention and this tax increase will gives us the ability to fix roads when we need to. Roads are of the primary concern with the increase. We also have village infrastructure that continues to age and will need to be addressed.”

If you live and work in the Village of Wellington, you will see a tax increase. For example, if your annual income is $50,000, your current annual tax is $500 ($50,000 x .01). Under the proposed tax rate, the annual tax would be $875 ($50,000 x .0175) for an additional cost of $375 annually, according to the release.

The release said residents who live in Wellington but work in another municipality will experience a reduction in municipal income taxes. The amount of reduction is dependent on the tax rate of the resident’s work community.

A public information session on the issue will be held in council chambers on the second floor of the town hall at 7 p.m. Oct. 30.

Residents may contact Dupee at 440-647-3827, Mayor Hans Schneider at 440-935-4733 and Finance Director Vanya Hales 440647-4626 for information.

VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON If the tax issue is approved, Wellington residents who work elsewhere will pay less, if anything at all, directly to the village depending on the tax rate where they work. This will be the new reciprocity agreement if the issue is passed.

VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON Tax information based on current rate.