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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018 ❚ BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS ❚ PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
Village seeks more candidates after ethics questions Jeanne Houck Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK
Golfers at the Kenwood Country Club in Madeira will begin helping the city with its fire protection costs next year. THE ENQUIRER/JEANNE HOUCK
Madeira seeking earnings tax hike in November Jeanne Houck Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK
Madeira will ask residents to approve a 0.25 percent earnings tax increase in November and will begin assessing a 3 percent tax on annual membership dues at the Kenwood Country Club in April. The tax on membership dues at the club, which is in Madeira, is expected to generate about $180,000 to $190,000 annually to offset the city’s portion of increased staffing costs for the Madeira & Indian Hill Joint Fire District. If Madeira voters agree to increase the city’s earnings tax – which is applied to the salaries of people who work and/or live in the city – from 1 percent to 1.25 percent, the hike would generate another $786,000 a year for the maintenance and repair of Madeira’s infrastructure. The earnings tax increase would cost wage-earners an additional $250 a year per $100,000 income. Madeira’s earnings tax rate has not been raised since 1979. “The reality is, we fall further behind every year on basic capital expenses, like paving roads, updating sewers and maintaining existing parks and public facilities, with very little left to invest in future improvements,” Madeira Vice Mayor Nancy Spencer said. She chairs the city’s budget and finance committee. “This modest earnings tax increase puts Madeira back on track to thrive for generations to come,” Spencer said. Should the earnings tax increase
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Mariemont scheduled two special meetings to fill as many vacant seats on its six-member village council. Council met Tuesday, Aug. 28, to fill the position vacated by Troy Hawkins, who resigned effective July 31 to take a job in the Chicago area. Council will meet again Sept. 4 to vote on a successor to Eric Marsland, who decided to leave after two residents publicly accused some council members of working behind the scenes to fill Hawkins’ seat with resident Frank Raeon instead of more widely advertising the opening. All the Mariemont Village Council members – including those who were not accused of unethical behavior – have denied any wrongdoing or violation of Sunshine Laws. But Marsland resigned with no notice Aug. 7 and reaffirmed his resignation Aug. 13 after some people tried to convince him to stay on, saying he wanted to focus on his family and volunteer work. Village council subsequently decided to approach filling Hawkins’ and Marsland’s seats with attention to transparency. At both special meetings, candidates will be given three minutes each to address council and residents will be allowed to speak before a decision is made. Mayor Dan Policastro is permitted to vote to break a tie. Anyone who wanted Marsland’s seat had until Monday, Aug. 27, to submit a letter of interest and brief resume to the village. The deadline to have submitted a letter of interest for Hawkins’ seat has passed. Anyone who expressed an interest in Hawkins’ seat and was not chosen Aug. 28 will be considered for Marsland’s seat without having to submit a second letter of interest. Council members may individually contact the candidates for a brief interview before the special meetings. See COUNCIL, Page 2A
Rising staffing costs have prompted Madeira to offset its portion of the expenses by instituting a 3 percent tax on annual membership dues at the Kenwood Country Club, effective in April. JEANNE HOUCK/THE ENQUIRER, FILE
Junior newspaper carriers needed pass, Madeira City Council has committed to adjusting its earnings tax credit so wage-earners who live in Madeira and work in other communities with their own earnings taxes will pay $100 more a year per $100,000 income to Madeira. This is expected to produce another $190,000 annually for the maintenance and repair of city infrastructure. Currently, Madeira residents who work outside the city receive a 90 percent credit for the earnings taxes they
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pay other communities when it comes to paying Madeira’s 1 percent earnings tax. If the city’s earnings tax is increased to 1.25 percent Nov. 6, the credit will drop to 84 percent of the new tax rate. “It's important to note that Madeira has not always had a 90 percent credit,” Madeira City Councilman Scott Gehring said. “That credit can be changed legislaSee MADEIRA, Page 2A
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