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Toledo State of the City Address

PictureSample ballot showing Issue 1 wording
​TOLEDO, OH - Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz gave the annual State of the City address on Thursday at the Toledo Zoo.
 
Kapszukiewicz said that while Toledo has a long way to go, progress has been made – pointing to an overall decrease in crime last year, the creation of the Toledo regional water commission, and the passage of the lead-safe ordinance.
 
The speech focused on his pitch for voting in favor of Issue 1 in the upcoming March election, a tax levy he said is a way of “investing in ourselves.”
 
If enacted, the city will invest in youth recreation, parks, universal pre-kindergarten, an increase in the police force, as well as road repairs, the mayor said. 
 
“We have a choice to make in this community,” Kapszukiewicz said. “If we’re happy with the status quo, we vote no on Issue 1… or we can decide to invest in ourselves and to do what successful cities do and vote yes on Issue 1.”
The ballot language was highlighted to show it requires 40% of the funds from the levy be dedicated specifically for street repairs. Issue 1 doesn’t allow for any reallocation of those funds. 
 
“This is a level of accountability that I think is important to build the trust of our voters as we head to the polls,” the mayor said of the stipulation on roads.
 
The city of Toledo resurfaced 1.6 miles of roads in 2019 and estimates 700 miles of residential roads could be paved over the next decade through the tax increase.
 
The passage of Issue 1 would increase income tax from 2.25% to 2.75% for the next 10 years. A household with a $100,000 annual income would pay an additional $500 yearly in income taxes.
 
By Sarah McRitchie
Copyright 2020 by UT:10 News - All rights reserved
Picture
Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz delivers annual State of the City address at the Toledo Zoo.

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