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Buckeye Lake council adopts 1.5% municipal income tax ordinance and approves related resolutions
Summary
The Buckeye Lake Village Council on June 22 adopted Ordinance 2026-20 to establish a 1.5% municipal income tax effective Jan. 1, 2027, and approved two related resolutions sending the tax question to voters and setting property-levy guidance; votes were split on several measures.
Council President Pro Tem Kellie Green presided as the Buckeye Lake Village Council on June 22 adopted Ordinance 2026-20, which establishes a municipal income tax at a rate of 1.5% per year effective Jan. 1, 2027, and authorizes the mayor and fiscal officer to join a regional income tax agency for administration and collection.
The ordinance was adopted on a 5-1 roll-call vote after a motion by Councilor John Lemmon and a second by Councilor Douglas Keener. The council recorded Yes votes from Lemmon, Michelle McCormick, Don Cable, Green and Keener; Councilor Deb Julian voted No.
The council also passed Resolution 2026-05, moved by Lemmon and seconded by Councilor Don Cable, to submit the 1.5% income tax question to the village electors; that measure passed 5-1 with Councilor Julian dissenting. Councilor Julian said the proposal “failed miserably in November 2025” and that “70% of residents said no,” urging more resident education before returning the question to voters.
Separately, Resolution 2026-06, which frames property tax-levy planning should the income tax be adopted, passed 4-2 (Yes: Lemmon, McCormick, Green, Keener; No: Cable, Julian). The Finance Committee earlier noted that the village’s existing property levy brings roughly $782,500 and warned that failure to secure necessary revenues could require serious budget cuts.
Councilors were divided on timing and strategy. Supporters said the tax and coordinated levy planning provide a predictable revenue path and participation in a regional tax agency will facilitate collections; detractors cautioned about prior voter rejection and the need for broader resident outreach.
The council did not set an immediate effective date for implementation beyond the ordinance language (effective Jan. 1, 2027) and the ballot submission will proceed under the adopted resolution. The next regular council meeting is scheduled for July 13, 2026, where follow-up steps and communications plans may be discussed.
