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Palestine’s decision to make

East Palestine Mayor Alan Cohen says the village is on the verge of “falling off a cliff” if something isn’t done to secure its financial future.

However, plans to place a .5 percent income tax increase before voters on the May primary election ballot may be starting down a slippery slope if the village fails to make its case for the need to increase the tax.

The tax increase is estimated to generate an additional $436,532 a year in revenue, which council proposes to split among the general fund, and the police and fire departments.

Councilman DJ Yokley noted at last week’s council meeting that the village must specifically explain to the public how the increased revenue would be spent. Yokley said he feared the public may be concerned that any general fund income would be spent on employee raises.

The proposed tax increase would be assessed on earned income only. Those on Social Security or pensions would not be affected.

Council members seemed unsure which way was best to raise revenue — an income tax increase or a property tax hike. While the fairness of either method can be debated at length, council must decide for sure which tax increase they will pursue and present their case to the people Otherwise, they will never be able to convince voters to support it.

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