BG income tax issue defeated

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Bowling Green voters overwhelmingly defeated a 0.08-percent income three-year temporary tax proposal on
Tuesday’s ballot.
The vote was 2,322 in favor (42 percent) to 3,173 against (58 percent).
“We knew we had a hard fight all the way,” said Bowling Green Mayor John B. Quinn. “It is difficult to
ask for money in these times.”
Quinn said the city will have to find a way to make up a projected $600,000 deficit in the 2010 budget.

“We’ll come up with a budget and get together with city council. They’ll have their opinions too.”
At-Large Council Member Robert McOmber said the defeat will make council’s job a little tougher. He said
the $600,000 is an estimate and a change in a couple of percentage points in income tax revenue could
make a big change one way or the other. “We might have to find a way to save $1 million or maybe only
$200,000,” he said.
The city administration had warned that a defeat would mean changing the Pearl Street fire station to
ambulance response only, elimination of funding for school crossing guards, closure of the yard waste
drop off site, reductions in brush and heavy-item pickups, a hiring freeze and non-replacement of staff,
along with reduction in the support of community events.
Council’s Finance Committee will hold budget hearings later this month to complete the 2010 budget.

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