Draft Safety Tax Budget Nearly Identical to Projected Levy Income

City officials anticipate spending nearly all of the projected revenue that would be created if Stow voters get to vote on, and approve, a proposed 0.25 percent income tax increase in November.

According to a draft budget from the city administration, the costs to improve security in the Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools via creation of a special school division within the Stow Police Department are estimated to be only about $29,000 less than the revenue the tax increase would generate in the first year.

The draft budget, created by the city's finance department with input from the mayor's office, police department, law department and the Stow Safety Task Force, projects revenue from the tax increase would be about $1.18 million in 2014.

Expenses for 2014, including wages, benefits and ancillary costs for 11 police officers and one part-time clerk, total about $1.15 million, according to the draft budget.

City administrators have been careful to say the draft budget is exactly that — a draft — and is by no means set in stone.

"The budget projections from the finance department have been clearly stated as a draft, a work in progress and our best estimates," Stow Mayor Sara Drew told Stow City Council last month.

The issue has already changed from earlier this year when Drew presented to council the findings of the safety task force, which initially recommended adding nine police officers — one for every school building within the district.

Council has given two readings to the legislation that would put the proposed 0.25 percent income tax increase on the November ballot. The issue earmarks any revenue generated by the new tax specifically for law enforcement expenses.

The issue is expected to have its final reading and vote at council this month.

Stow Budget and Finance Director John Baranek said the overall expenses would fluctuate.

"It’s a preliminary budget," he said. "It’s going to fluctuate. We don’t know exactly what it’s going to entail."