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Oakwood voters approved 2.41‑mill levy; city reports ARPA and state funds helped Far Hills projects as water rates rise
Summary
In a State of the City address, Oakwood’s mayor reported a voter-approved 2.41‑mill property tax levy, use of $940,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds and a $1.2 million state grant toward Far Hills infrastructure projects, and said another water-rate increase is planned for February 2025.
Oakwood’s mayor told residents that voters approved a 2.41‑mill property tax levy in February 2024 and that the city used a mix of federal and state aid to complete recent infrastructure work.
“We used $940,000 of federal American Rescue Plan funds to offset part of the $2,200,000 construction cost,” the mayor said about the Far Hills Storm Sewer Reconstruction Project. He also said the city received $1,200,000 from the Ohio Department of Transportation for the Far Hills Avenue resurfacing project, which the mayor described as representing 80% of that project’s cost.
The mayor said Oakwood voters approved the 2.41‑mill levy in February 2024 to replace a 3.75‑mill levy that expired in February 2023, and noted that only about 8.2% of property-tax dollars go to city services, with the remainder going to Oakwood Schools, Montgomery County agencies and Wright Memorial Public Library. “We thank Oakwood voters for their support of our first-class city services,” he said.
On utility rates, the mayor reported that the city raised water rates in February 2024 — the first increase in seven years — and that another increase is scheduled for February 2025. He described maintaining aging above- and below-ground infrastructure as a top priority for council and staff.
The mayor framed the funding mix as a combination of local voter support and outside grants: federal ARPA funds, state transportation assistance and the property-tax levy. He thanked the city’s 34-member budget review committee for helping the city meet financial challenges and complete the two projects.
The mayor’s remarks were a report to residents, not a formal council vote at this meeting. No new ordinances or council motions were stated in the address.
