Finance Director Larry Paxton explains the income tax budget process to Ashland council

Jarred Opatz, Ashland Times Gazette
·2 min read
City Finance Director Larry Paxton explains the 2023 tax budget process to members of Ashland City Council during Tuesday's meeting.
City Finance Director Larry Paxton explains the 2023 tax budget process to members of Ashland City Council during Tuesday's meeting.

Ashland City Council

Tuesday, June 21 meeting

KEY ACTION  The process for adopting the proposed 2023 tax budget for the city of Ashland was presented by Finance Director Larry Paxton during the first of two public hearings required for it.

DISCUSSION  Paxton told council after the budget's initial numbers are next reviewed by a county budget commission (prosecutor, auditor and treasurer of the county), the budget will return to council for the second public hearing and adoption.

Paxton said the county budget commission should finish its hearings to review the tax budget in August.

June 7 Ashland council meeting: 'This is our Intel' — Mayor Matt Miller on Charles River's $212 million expansion project

"One of the big things the tax budget does is establish millage rates for the coming year for the county auditor to collect on property taxes in 2023 for the tax year 2022," Paxton explained.

A little more than $15 million is expected to be collected in city income taxes for 2022, which the city anticipated, Paxton added.

Grant helps fund police body cams

OTHER BUSINESS Advertising permits for Paul Lannon of Sherriff Goslin Roofing Co.

and Lighthouse Pentecostal Church were approved.

FOR YOUR INFO

  • Mayor Matt Miller reminded residents there will be an increase in water bills in July.

  • Miller also mentioned that work on paving the worst sections of Claremont Avenue, at a cost of about $137,000, has begun.

  • The mayor said the city received a $30,000 grant from the Norma Foundation to pay for about half the cost of 30 body cameras for the Police Division that council approved June 7.

  • Simonson Construction will resurface and redesign Parking Lot B in the city with the winning bid of $472,000 for the project. "That parking lot is in deplorable condition with crumbling islands and broken asphalt," Miller said.

  • With dirt starting to be moved for Charles River Laboratories' $212 expansion project, the city is hiring an engineering firm for a study in that area to help improve traffic flow at George Road and U.S. Route 250, said Miller, who added this is the first step to access any ODOT or state funds to widen lanes or add turn lanes. Part of the tax abatement agreement is improving the traffic flow near the facility, according to Miller.

UP NEXT  Meets at 7 p.m. July 5 in the municipal building.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: City of Ashland has first public hearing on proposed 2023 tax budget