Athens City Council members might soon change the distribution of income taxes to help “rehabilitate” streets in the city of Athens.
The redistribution is one of the topics council members will address at their first meeting of the year Monday night. The measure will not change the amount Athens residents pay, but rather will change the distribution of the funding to help pay for repairs of the city’s streets, Council President Chris Knisely said.
“When the income tax comes in, certain percentages go to different activities in the city,” Knisely said. “The mayor is requesting a minor shift so that some additional monies go into ‘street rehabilitation.’ It’s basically our street repaving and repairs that go on every year.”
Knisely noted that an increase in funding was necessary, since the repairs are often expensive.
“It’s pretty costly and we’re realizing we probably need a bit more money for that,” Knisely said.
According to the city’s website, the income tax for 2017 is is 1.85%.
Council members will also further discuss the feasibility of neighborhood parking passes, which would allow Athens residents to leave their car parked on their street for more than the now-24 hour limit.
At a prior meeting, Joan Kraynanski, a member of the Athens West Side Community Association, spoke to council about the need for parking passes, using examples of residents who were unable to move their car every day, according to a previous Post report.
“We need a system that will serve to reduce parking restriction to residents in geographically challenged neighborhoods and thus promote the general public welfare,” Kraynanski said.
In addition, council will receive updates about construction on West Union Street, which has been ongoing for more than two years after a fire destroyed several buildings in the area. The renovations are nearing completion.
Guy Phillips, managing partner at Athens Housing Hotlink, told a Post reporter in November that the building should be finished early in 2017.
"There's still construction going on," Phillips said. "But I think it will look like look like a finished building in February."
Council members will also hear a presentation from Ohio University senior Selan Snyder about this year’s Athens Beautification Day, which will take place April 9.
