Issue One: City Grants Financial Reprieve

10 TV: Columbus voters approved an increase in the city's income tax on Tuesday to prevent layoffs of police and firefighters and restore services cut in the current fiscal crisis. Unofficial results showed Issue 1 passing by 52 percent to 48 percent… "We knew it was going to be close all along, one way or the other," Mayor Michael Coleman said. "This was a very difficult decision for our citizens. They made the right decision."

Opponents of the tax hike were disappointed that Issue 1 passed, but they said city leaders must now be held accountable for how the money will be spent. "At the end of the day, we still have to hold City Hall accountable, even more so, because they have between $90 and $100 million more of our tax money," Matt Ferris, a City Council candidate and Issue 1 opponent, said…

After returns showed Issue 1 passed, Coleman said Tuesday night that the roughly 500 police officers and firefighters threatened with layoffs would be keeping their jobs. The new brought smiles at the firefighters' union headquarters, where members of the divisions of Fire and Police smoked cigars and danced to music.

Coleman pointed out that even with the tax increase, the city still has about a $15 million deficit to make up. But he promised the yes vote on Issue 1 means no layoffs for police or fire, some of the closed recreation centers will be reopened, and city services will be maintained.

Beginning October 1, those who work in Columbus will find the city taking an additional half-percent of their pay, from 2 percent to 2.5 percent. It works out to an additional $50 for every $10,000 earned.