RACELAND — A loose committee of council members and employers in Raceland hopes to meet next week to hash out a payroll tax compromise.
Among the employers will be Raceland-Worthington Independent School District Superintendent Frank Melvin, Super Quik owner Lynn Rice and Joy Conley, who owns the Small Wonders Learning Center day care.
Also attending will be Woody Lane, district chairman of Local 6344 of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, which represents hourly workers at CSX and Progress Rail facilities in the city.
Their main purpose is to come up with a payroll tax amount that workers can afford and at the same time is enough to keep the city financially solvent.
The arrangement for the meeting, which hasn’t been scheduled yet, came during a special council meeting Friday. The community center meeting room was standing room only, similar to the Tuesday meeting at which the council delayed collection of the already enacted 2 percent tax until May.
Conley, who as Russell city clerk has 20 years of experience in municipal finances, offered to assist Raceland in analyzing its financial standing and needs.
How much the 2 percent tax would bring in remains unclear, because the city hasn’t been able to get firm payroll information.
What is clear is that none of the worker groups wants to pay that much. Melvin and Lane each suggested a quarter of a percent would be better.
Whether the council will agree remains to be seen. Council member Charles Powell said he would have to try to calculate how much money it would generate.
The worker groups consistently say they’re willing to help the city dig out of its financial hole. In a good-faith gesture, Lane and CSX employees offered to repair a damaged backhoe for free.
Melvin thinks the council should seek guidance from the Kentucky League of Cities to come up with solutions.
Cities the size of Raceland are limited by state law in how they can raise money. Income taxes, for instance, aren’t allowed. And Raceland is further limited in its ability to control expenses, because most city workers are union members and their contract gives the city few options.
“I think they’re going to work with us,” Lane said afterward. The workers he represents won’t be satisfied if the tax is more than a quarter of a percent, but they’re willing to negotiate, he said.
Melvin and Conley both said they were encouraged by the tone of the meeting. “I think they’re going to do the right thing,” Conley said.
The meeting was productive because it got the city and the worker groups working together, Powell said. “Now we know what their feelings are. We know that they are willing to work with us and we are willing to work with them.”
No matter what the eventual amount, the ordinance will be amended to remove language that appeared to levy the tax on corporate revenues. That was a mistake, Powell said. “It was never intended to be more than a payroll tax.”
MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Kevin Goldy
Discussion
Raceland promises to work on payroll tax
Hopes to come up with affordable amountBy MIKE JAMES
- Local News
-
-
Sneak peek at this year's hottest Super Bowl ads
The Super Bowl is a must-watch TV event, if not for the outcome of the biggest football game of the year, then at least for the multi-million dollar commercials that run throughout. And this year’s buzzworthy spots include celebrity appearances, homages to movies and lots of humor.
-
Keeping her finger on the pulse
Jessica Pal sat down at the family computer in the dining room on Jan. 13 and started clicking through data sets.
-
90-plus recommendations, highlighted by staffing, false alarms, overtime for fire department
Financially, “The status quo is just not sustainable,” for the Ashland Fire Department, according to Tim McGrath, a consultant that recently evaluated the department for the city.
-
Rowan teachers picked for NASA flight
Two science teachers at Rowan County High School have earned berths on a high-altitude NASA research flight sometime next year.
-
Helgason’s art, poetry to be shown at The Upstairs Gallery
The figure paintings of Ironton artist Linda Helgason will be displayed at The Upstairs Gallery starting with today’s First Friday art walk.
-
Spring film fest begins
The Spring International Film Festival begins today at the Keith-Albee Theater.
-
Art as therapy
Natural gems, each with its unique look, inspires the work on Amy Litteral, owner of Moxie Jewelry Designs which is headquartered at the Pendleton Art Center.
-
Blazer students' work displayed at 1414 Gallery
When the question was posed, “Why do you do what you do?,” art students at Paul G. Blazer High School had the answer and have shared it in an exhibit that opens on First Friday at The 1414 Gallery at TSHD Architects.
-
Local briefs: 2/3/12
The Housing Authority of Ashland has closed its waiting list for apartments until further notice.
-
Blazer, Russell, West Carter earn district Cup honors
Northeastern Kentucky high schools in three districts had their opening Governor’s Cup tournaments on Saturday, with West Carter, Paul G. Blazer and Russell taking first place.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
