Findlay mayor proposes 1% income-tax rebate program to target higher‑paying jobs

At a Strategic Planning Committee meeting, the mayor presented a concept for a city income-tax withholding rebate to help attract and retain higher-paying jobs and certain target industries. The committee voted to ask the mayor to further develop the proposal.

The mayor argued the city currently cannot claim to offer an income-tax incentive and that a structured rebate would give Findlay an additional tool for site selectors and recruiters. "We don't have the ability to say that we offer an income tax incentive of any kind," the mayor said.

Proposal highlights presented by staff included a targeted list of industries (corporate headquarters/management offices, health care, energy, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, finance, information technology, and other cases by council review) tied to specific NAICS codes. The draft would be an application-driven rebate on withholding and would include tiers for attraction and expansion: smaller, short-term rebates for modest hires and larger, multi-year rebates for projects that deliver high counts of high-wage positions.

Example tiers discussed in staff modeling (presented as illustrative only): a small attraction tier for a business adding a handful of mid‑level positions could qualify for a one‑year, lower‑percentage rebate; a larger attraction tier for major, high‑wage projects could receive up to 80% withholding rebate for multiple years if the company hires defined numbers of qualifying employees. Staff stressed the rebate would be a contract-based, auditable reimbursement paid after payroll and reporting milestones are met.

Questions from committee members focused on administration and accountability: how the city would track and audit new jobs, avoid incentive gaming (for example, shifting jobs between firms to claim rebates), and estimate the annual budget impact. The mayor said businesses would submit expected hiring in advance and that the city would require ongoing reporting to receive payments. "The businesses have to submit in advance so we will be able to appropriately budget that," staff said.

Formal action: A motion to ask the mayor to continue fleshing out the rebate concept passed on a voice vote; details and final program design will return to committee before any ordinance or administrative process is adopted.

Ending: Staff will consult with the auditor, economic development partners and peer cities, and report recommended application forms, proof-of-hire procedures, and budget estimates to the committee.