North Ridgeville council introduces measure to place 0.75% income-tax increase on November ballot

North Ridgeville city council on July 21 introduced legislation to place a proposed 0.75 percentage-point municipal income tax increase before voters, with the levy slated to begin Jan. 1, 2026 if approved. The proposal appeared on the agenda as a resolution declaring the necessity of an election (2025‑113) and an ordinance to amend the city codified ordinances to levy the additional 0.75% (2025‑114).

The introductions came as Mayor (name on record) and the administration flagged a short-term finance crunch and asked residents to review a recent finance-committee meeting video that covered the numbers. The mayor told council the proposed increase "will be coming up at the next council meeting for a vote," signaling an expedited calendar for the measure.

The matter matters because the ordinance would change the city's tax rate and revenue starting Jan. 1, 2026, and because councilors and residents raised sharp concerns about the city's fiscal preparedness during public comment. Resident Shelly Kersey, citing an article in cleveland.com, criticized city financial management and quoted a line attributed to the finance director that she said expressed alarm about the city's projections. Kersey said the community had been shortchanged on prior planning and warned of impacts to residents on fixed incomes.

Council did not vote on the tax measures at the July 21 meeting; both items were presented on first reading. The mayor asked that residents watch the finance-committee discussion online before the next meeting and indicated council will consider a vote at a subsequent session.

What council members said during the meeting was limited to procedural introductions for the two items and a recommendation to review the finance-committee briefing; no substantive amendments or final actions were recorded on 2025‑113 or 2025‑114 during the July 21 session. The administration previously provided council a memorandum and the finance director presented a separate appropriation amendment on the same agenda (see related article).

Council scheduled a Committee of the Whole meeting and the next regular council meeting for Aug. 4, 2025; the committee schedule includes review of other administrative items, and the administration indicated the tax measure will advance through the council process before any final vote.

The city provided the ordinance language on the agenda packet; residents wishing to follow the proposal can view the finance-committee video mentioned by the mayor and check the Aug. 4 council agenda for formal calendar actions.