Athens City Council tables 2025 budget ordinance; income tax hike moves forward

Two women sitting before microphones. — Councilwoman Beth Clodfelter, At-Large (right), sits next to fellow Councilwoman Jessica Thomas, At-Large, who gives first reading Monday of an ordinance to place before city voters next May a proposal to increase the city income tax by 15% – from 1.95% to 2.25%. Screenshot.

ATHENS, Ohio — With the third and final reading of its 2025 appropriations budget of $54 million set for Monday, Athens City Council instead tabled the ordinance because it shows only expenditures – nothing on projected revenue, as happened last year.

The budget was instead moved to the Dec. 9 Athens City Council committees meeting, which will also serve as a special council meeting.

In a related matter, the council heard the first reading of an ordinance, proposed by Mayor Steve Patterson, to raise the city’s income tax, from 1.95% to 2.25% — a 15.4% hike, one of the largest increases in city history.

If the council approves the ordinance, the tax increase would go before city voters on May 6, 2025. It would generate $2.6 million more for the city’s nearly $20 million general fund.

Athens council continues proposed income tax hike discussion

Councilman Alan Swank, 4th Ward, told the council that he had a proposed amendment to put forward concerning the income tax, but decided to hold off until next Monday because key officials — including Patterson, City Auditor Kathy Hecht, and councilman Jeff Risner, 2nd Ward, who chairs the city’s Finance and Personnel Committee — were absent.

“I will say this though: In talking with many, many citizens about this (proposed income tax increase), the impression I am getting is this is going to be a very, very heavy lift,” Swank said.

Swank noted that the proposed income tax increase would be for the general fund, rather than a specific purpose. For example, the tax increase that went into effect this year, will pay for the new fire headquarters on Stimson Avenue.

It’s easier for voters to grasp such a tax proposal when it goes toward something “tangible,” like the fire station or the city pool, Swank said.

“This is just for money,” Swank said. “Someone said to me, ‘Unless I get a raise this year, this is going to be like a pay cut.’“

2025 appropriations ordinance

When the 2025 appropriations ordinance came up for its third reading, Swank expressed concern that the council had not been given information about projected revenue.

“I find it kind of odd that we’re voting to spend money when we don’t know how much we have,” Swank said.

Swank’s comments sparked a nearly 20-minute discussion about whether to table the measure until Hecht can provide more information about the city’s finances, including how much of the city’s 2024 general fund reserve will be carried over into 2025.

Council member Jessica Thomas, At-Large, said that the 2025 budget “is the exact same ordinance we did last year, the same ordinance we do every year.” The city can’t “predict revenue 100%,” she said.

“I don’t know how this didn’t come up in two previous readings if this is so urgent,” she said.

Swank and Solveig Spjeldnes, 1st Ward, noted that the council had asked the administration last year for information about projected revenue, so they had anticipated that it would be provided this year without having to ask.

City Treasurer Josh Thomas said that council “has never voted on revenue, because you can’t vote on something you don’t know. Revenue can be projected and hoped for, but you can’t know what’s coming in.”

The standard procedure, he said, is for council to approve the appropriations and then amend the ordinance as needed during the fiscal year, when the city has a better idea of its revenue.

Nobody’s asking to vote on revenue, Swank replied, but “some number is better than no number,” especially in light of a proposed income tax increase.

Swank said he had no doubt that the city administration had performed its due diligence on expenditures, “but when we take an oath, one of the things we swear to uphold is the protection of the taxypayers’ purse,” Swank said.

Thomas said that projected revenue was irrelevant. “It doesn’t matter what revenue is, we still have to pay personnel, still have to pay medical costs,” she said. “To do it the way you’re asking to do is rewriting amd redoing the structure of the budgeting for the city.”

Swank replied, “I’m not asking to redo anything, I’m just asking for someone to show me we have the money, period.”

He moved to table the ordinance until council’s special meeting on Dec. 9, with Spjeldnes seconding. The motion to table carried 4–1, with Thomas casting the lone “no” vote.

Other tabled ordinances

Upon advice from City Law Director Lisa Eliason, the council tabled third readings of other ordinances, including one regarding nonunion compensation; another on a fringe benefits package for nonunion personnel; and a third on obtaining services of the public defender’s office at $120,000 per year.

Eliason said it was necessary to postpone their final readings until next Monday because all of them involve expenditures from the tabled 2025 appropriations ordinance.

The nonunion compensation ordinance covers pay grades and pay ranges for employees such as the service-safety director, public works director, police chief and fire chief. It also provides them with a cost-of-living increase of 75 cents per hour. The fringe benefits package covers items such as overtime, vacations, retirement, medical insurance, sick leave, parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition reimbursement and other items.

Ordinances passed on third reading

Council adopted upon third reading code fees for accessory structures and accessory energy systems, through an ordinance amending Title 1, Chapter 1.03. Permit fees for accessory structures shall be $100 plus $1.50 per thousand dollars of improvement. Permit fees will be $150 for roof-mounted residential solar.

Ordinances for second readings

The council amended an ordinance authorizing the mayor to provide financial support from the city’s hotel tax to the Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia.

Proposed by Swank, and approved unanimously, the amendment would keep the city’s general fund reserve requirement at 8% this year in order to support ORCA, which will receive $24,673 from the city by March 2025. The payment represents $1 for each city resident, according to U.S. Census figures.

However, the amendment specifies that in subsequent years, the reserve must be at 9% to continue funding ORCA.

Former Ohio Rep. Mary Abel noted that the city used to fund ORCA at $90,000 per year. Athens County Commissioners declined funding for ORCA due to concerns that it promoted regional recreational opportunities rather than those specific to Athens County. The amended ordinance will go to second reading next Monday.

County commissioners decline to pay lowered outdoor rec council dues

Ordinances heard on first reading

The council heard on first reading an ordinance authorizing the replacement of ADA ramps at all four corners of the Court and Union streets intersection, as well as the replacement of crosswalks with stamped concrete.

The project, which could proceed over Ohio University’s winter break, authorizes $200,000 from the city’s street fund to M&M Construction, which is also working on the Lostro building development. The building is the site of the former Follett’s Bookstore, and is being developed into a multi-story, multi-use commercial building to include a boutique hotel on the upper floors and restaurants on the street level.

The ordinance has generated debate over adhering to city historical guidelines for replacing brick infrastructure with more bricks. Council members reaffirmed their position to allow stamped concrete over bricks because it is easier for people with disabilities to navigate concrete ramps and crosswalks.

However, Tim Traxler of Millfield, who presented the council a week ago with a petition containing 85 signatures, said he wants the city to hear from architects and planners about the option of using clay bricks.

The council also heard first reading of an ordinance authorizing replacement of a water line on Factory Street with a new 10-inch line, a project at $220,000 to be paid from the water maintenance fund. The new line will connect with a 12-inch line on Union Street and a 14-inch line by the OU Central Plant complex, giving the city more options as protection against water line breaks.

Athens Poet Laureate

A woman stands before a microphone. — Stephanie Kendrick, Athens Poet Laureate, reads her original poem to Athens City Council, titled “An Ode to Athens, Ohio.” Screenshot.

Stephanie Kendrick, Athens Poet Laureate, started out the council meeting by distributing her Periodical Poetry newsletter, the November/December copy of which contains her poem, “An Ode to Athens, Ohio.” She praised Athens city leaders for having a poet laureate. “A lot of cities do not cultivate the arts this way,” she said.

New Athens poet laureate is more than wordsmith

Kendrick said she enjoys receiving poems from local residents and includes them in her newsletter. On the second Wednesdays of the month, open mic nights for those who wish to read their poems are held at Athens Uncorked from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There is also an Athens Poetry Group that meets every other Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Athens Public Library.

Athens annexation of county land

Council President Sam Crowl gave a brief report concerning 34.9 acres of land that Athens County has granted to the city for annexation and connection to city services.

The land, owned by Mark Snider, is located in the area where May Avenue becomes Cable Lane, and where a long driveway goes to the top of a ridge. The land, which has been vacant for many years, will be used for a residence by the Snider family, Crowl said later. Project details are available for review in the city offices for the next 60 days.

City officials also referenced an apartment complex project proposal in Ward 2, on Athens’ South side, which has already been recommended for a required zoning change by the city planning commission, Crowl said Tuesday.

Few details of it were mentioned Monday, but the topic will be placed on next Monday’s agenda. The apartment complex proposal on just over eight acres would be near the intersection of Richland Avenue and Old Pomeroy Road, near a paint shop.

Executive session

Lisa Eliason requested that the council convene in executive session following the regular meeting, for the purpose of discussing the “threat of litigation.” Crowl said Tuesday that no action was taken once out of executive session. He added that the issue does not involve a threat of litigation against the city of Athens.

Athens City Council’s next regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9, in Athens City Hall, Council Chambers, third floor, 8 E. Washington St. Meetings are also available online. Regular sessions are on the first and third Mondays of the month; committee meetings are on the second and fourth Mondays.