By Dustin Ensinger
Staff Writer
Already strapped for cash, the city of Reynoldsburg could lose some income tax revenue due to a recent change in state law.
City Auditor Richard Harris reported at city council’s April 27 meeting that House Bill 5, which was passed during the previous legislative session and contained major changes to the municipal income taxes in the interest of uniformity, contains several provisions that could impact the city’s coffers.
“The big concern is how this will impact cities,” Harris said.
One of the major changes will allow businesses owners to carry net operating losses forward beginning in tax year 2017.
Another change will affect “occasional entrants,” or people that do not work in the city on a permanent basis.
Under current state law, workers in such a situation are not obligated to pay income taxes until they have worked in a municipality for 12 days. Once that point is reached, all their income earned in the city is subject to taxation.
The change in state law would lengthen the number of days to 20, and workers’ wages would be subject to income tax from day 21 forward.
Harris said that by the end of the year, the city will need to rewrite some tax ordinances to comply with state law.
“We’ll be getting involved with this in the fall,” he said.
Sanitary sewer and water projects
Council approved a measure to allow for a $375,576 sanitary sewer improvement project to move forward.
The project involves relining nearly 4,000 feet of sewer pipe and the rehabilitation of more than 300 vertical feet of manholes in the areas of Brice Road-Rider Road and Crest Road-Nimes Court.
Construction is expected to begin in early May and last no more than 150 days.
Council also approved a $525,428 contract with Rock River Construction to replace a water main on Furth Drive.
The project is expected to begin in early May and last no more than 90 days.
The money for both projects will come from the water department’s capital improvement fund.
Mentoring program
Council approved a special use exception permit for a youth mentoring program based out of 6543 E. Main St.
The Build Our Soul Foundation will largely focus on 13 to 19-year-old youths from single parent households, according to President Robert Chandler.
“These youths’ safety and well-being means the world to me,” Chandler said.
