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You won鈥檛 be seeing an RTA tax levy on the ballot this fall.
The transit authority board decided the financial need is there, but the time isn鈥檛 right.
Newburgh Heights Mayor Trevor Elkins introduced a resolution anyway, despite concerned comments from every other board member present at Tuesday鈥檚 meeting.
鈥淚 think we should take the opportunity to give the voters a choice this November to approve or disapprove a four-tenths of one percent sales tax increase,鈥� said Elkins.
Board members said they were not ready to put the tax increase before voters.
鈥淲e have to get out and talk to the community,鈥� said board member Valerie McCall, City of Cleveland Chief of Government and International Affairs.
Some board members said they aren鈥檛 sure residents trust them, especially after recent .
鈥淭o put it before the whole county, I think we need to have our house in order,鈥� said board member Karen Gabriel Moss. 鈥淭o be honest, I don鈥檛 think we have our house in order.鈥�
Other board members raised concerns about the cost of a campaign.
Marvin Ranaldson of Clevelanders for Public Transit understands the board鈥檚 wariness, but he worries about RTA鈥檚 funding future.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just disappointed鈥hat after all this time and all this talk, that they decided to do nothing, which is basically what they have been doing for the last two years,鈥� said Ranaldson after Tuesday鈥檚 meeting.
late last month, asking RTA to approve a resolution for the tax levy.
Both Elkins and Ranaldson expressed concern about turnout in next year鈥檚 elections.
鈥淭his would be the greatest opportunity before 2020, which is when the authority starts operating in the red,鈥� said Elkins in his attempt to appeal to board members. 鈥淭his would be the greatest likelihood for turnout that is favorable.鈥�
says a tax levy 鈥渨ill likely be sometime in 2019.鈥� The statement adds that several studies are in progress which will 鈥渉elp give RTA and the community the information needed to make sound and informed decisions.鈥�
A fare study and an are both underway, according to the agency.
