Perrysburg income tax collections continue to climb, but the city administrator says it’s nothing to open the checkbook for and start spending.

In his finance committee report at Tuesday’s council meeting, Councilman Mark Weber said year-to-date income tax collections are up $916,511, or 4 percent, compared to 2023. September income tax collections alone were up $234,918, or 11 percent, compared to September, 2023.

“The increases, in part, are due to many residents working from home,” Mr. Weber said.

After the meeting, Administrator Joe Fawcett said the work-from-home theory is an educated guess.

“There’s no way for us to tell definitively,” he said. 

Increasing income tax revenue continues to be a trend for the city, Mr. Fawcett said.

“Perrysburg’s been very fortunate to have a strong income tax collection. It’s hovered within that 3 to 4 percent range [of annual increases],” he said. 

Any income tax collected that exceeds estimates will go into the city’s general fund cash balance.

“It allows for us to respond to unanticipated emergencies, and it helps future city budgets,” Mr. Fawcett said.

This is not a big windfall for the city, he added.

According to Amber Rathburn, director of finance, Perrysburg’s 2025 draft budget is $125 million. The draft budget includes $27.4 million for income tax revenue. The 2024 budget had projected $25 million in income tax revenue.

Perrysburg has its own income tax division and does not use the Regional Income Tax Agency like a number of other area municipalities.

In nearby Northwood, income tax collection this year is down $590,000, or 11 percent, as of Sept. 30. The city’s research showed business collections are probably responsible for the drop.

Other Northwood research found that Sylvania was down 1.9 percent and Ottawa Hills was down 1 percent. Holland is up 11 percent, Bowling Green was up 9 percent, and Oregon was up 3 percent.

Also at the Perrysburg meeting, council approved applying for two Wood County Park District grants.

One is to purchase and install two Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant wall-mounted water bottle filling stations at Rivercrest Park and Municipal Park for $4,570.

The other grant would be used to purchase and install replacement batting cage netting for five batting cages, including three at Municipal Park and two at Rivercrest Park for $9,975.

First Published October 18, 2024, 5:07 p.m.