03/03/2024
Please let us provide answers to a couple of recurring questions.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀?
Fire/EMS – We do not have a proper decontamination system for our first responders. We also do not have equal male/female sleeping quarters for Fire/EMS. This is a federal requirement that we are not meeting. The fire station on Main Street has no sleeping quarters at all. Our Fire/EMS team deserves these basic necessities. The new Fire/EMS building will address these issues. Additionally, consolidating the two current stations would help reduce extensive overtime and improve morale.
Police - The space originally built for 10 police officers currently serves 37 (plus dispatch). It has no holding cell, no separate place to detain, interview or separate criminals from victims and no gender equality for overall facilities. Officers are using storage spaces as offices.
If you’d like to tour any of these facilities, we can help arrange that. Please message us or get in touch with your council person.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗹?
The current PVC pool liner (the ongoing repair issue at Dogwood Pool) is under warranty through 2026. After that, repairs will become very costly. Administration and Council have said that passage of Issue 7 will allow a commitment to a city owned public pool after 2026. The pool in 2027 will likely be a rebuild including new features, zero depth entry, and greater efficiency in all ways. It’s important to note that the councilperson who chairs parks and recreation for Council is incredibly committed to a city owned public pool. Passage of Issue 7 will make the ongoing costs of running a pool sustainable without an additional levy.
Note: most municipalities have levies for property tax funding for police and parks. North Canton does not. These expenses come directly out of our general fund (which is funded by income tax revenue).
𝗜𝗳 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝟳 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱?
City Administration will ask City Council to rescind the reciprocity credit for those living in North Canton, but working in another municipality. Currently, the City of North Canton receives $0 in income tax from those individuals. If Council agrees to eliminate reciprocity, these people will pay income tax to the city they are employed AND 1.5% to North Canton. Taking this step, would generate an estimated $2.8 million annually (nearly $1 million less that the 1/2% income tax – issue 7 – will generate). That $2.8 million would allow the Fire/EMS building project to move forward. It would not generate enough funding to allow confidence in repair/rebuilding a public pool.
There is no guarantee that City Council would have a majority vote to rescind reciprocity, at which point, several city services and improvements would be in jeopardy.
𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝟳 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀?
Yes. Those without earned income do not pay income tax, so passage of Issue 7 will not cost them anything. And as a result of Issue 7 passing, the current streets levy (paid by property owners) will be eliminated, so retirees who own property in the City will see a reduction in tax costs. If Issue 7 doesn’t pass, the streets levy will need to be renewed.
𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗬𝗘𝗦 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝘆𝗮𝗿𝗱?
Yes! Please message us with your address.
