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Council declares election on 0.2% income-tax increase to fund capital projects
Summary
Washington Court House City Council approved Resolution R16-2025 to place a proposed 0.2-percentage-point income-tax increase on the ballot; the levy would begin Jan. 1, 2026, run 10 years, and fund parks, streets, alleys, bypass and building/infrastructure maintenance.
The Washington Court House City Council voted to adopt Resolution R16-2025, declaring the necessity of an election on whether to approve an ordinance that would increase the city income-tax rate by 0.2 percentage points starting Jan. 1, 2026, for a 10-year period to finance capital improvements including parks, streets, alleys, the bypass and building and infrastructure maintenance.
Council members placed the question before voters so the increase could be added to the ballot; the resolution clarifies that passage of the tax by electors is a prerequisite to the council passing the implementing ordinance. The resolution references section 110.01 of the city’s codified ordinances as the provision that would be amended if voters approve the measure.
Council took a roll-call vote on the resolution; the transcript records affirmative votes from all members present (Schultz; Blair; Cole; Chrisman; Hawk; Johnson; Lynch). The council did not record any 'no' votes on the resolution in the transcript. The meeting also included discussion about sequencing: council members explained the resolution goes to the board of elections first and that the ordinance itself would only be enacted if voters approve the tax.
City staff and council members framed the measure as a capital improvements funding source, and they emphasized the procedural steps: pass the resolution to request the election, then, only if voters approve the tax, adopt the ordinance changing the codified ordinance. No specific budget estimates, revenue projections, or spending schedules tied to the 0.2% increase were provided in the meeting record.
The council set the procedural next steps: submit the resolution to the board of elections and, if voters approve the measure, return to council later for ordinance readings and final adoption. No formal ballot language or election date beyond the procedural referral to the board of elections was specified in the transcript.
Votes at a glance: Resolution R16-2025 (declaring necessity of an election to approve amending section 110.01 to increase the income-tax rate by 0.2 percentage points for 10 years) — outcome: approved by roll call (Schultz: yes; Blair: yes; Cole: yes; Chrisman: yes; Hawk: yes; Johnson: yes; Lynch: yes).
