Sal Talarico – The Oberlin Review

Community members vote at Philips gym in the
November 2017 local election.

Oberlin Primary Election Looks to Renew Key Tax Levies

April 26, 2019

Ohio’s primary election on May 7 will decide whether the city of Oberlin will renew two pre-existing taxes — an income tax that supports the city’s general fund and a tax levy for the benefit of the public library. The five-year, 0.2 percent income tax levy supports the operating and capital improvement expenses that go toward the City’s general fund. The levy is estimated to generate $618,889 in 2019 alone and city officials predict that this number will stay consistent for years to co...

City Council President Ronnie Rimbert speaks at Monday’s City Council meeting.
Council passed a resolution opposing Governor John Kasich’s proposed 2017–
2018 budget, which proposes centralized collection of business income tax returns.

City Resists State’s Income-Tax Collection

April 7, 2017

City officials are staunchly resisting a recent proposal by Ohio Governor John Kasich that would give the state centralized control of each city’s business income tax. Local officials fear the program is a stepping-stone to state regulation of local matters, leading Oberlin City Council to pass a resolution in opposition to the proposed program at Monday's meeting. The city receives $7.5 million in income taxes each year, but only about $250,000 comes from business income tax. The tax money goes ...

News Brief: Hotel Lawsuit Settled

Sydney Allen, Production editor

April 22, 2016

After last week’s lawsuit between the city of Oberlin and the College involving the Peter B. Lewis Gateway Center, the drama has finally come to an end. A settlement agreement was reached Wednesday between both parties. The Oberlin City Council unanimously approved the settlement, which resolves all remaining issues surrounding the completion of the Gateway Center. The settlement comes after Oberlin College took legal action against the city for withholding the permits that would allow the center to open. The settlement stipulated that there will be a 15-foot sidewalk as well as 14 angled parking spaces along East College Street. In addition, the College has agreed to pay for and install all restriping for the...

News Brief: Gateway Center Opening Postponed

April 8, 2016

The $35 million Peter B. Louis Gateway Convention Center opening date has been postponed yet again as it continues to undergo construction. The Hotel at Oberlin, as it will be known, has been the topic of much debate between the city and the College due to several permit issues that have twice pushed back the original opening date, which was supposed to be in January. An excavation permit for concrete pouring and an occupancy permit are still needed before the hotel is allowed to open. The College...

Feature Photo: City, Library, Renewal Levies on March 15 Ballot

March 4, 2016

With Super Tuesday come and gone, it’s time for Ohioans to turn toward their own state’s primary on March 15. In addition to the presidential candidates, several levies will be on the ballot for renewal. The League of Women Voters of the Oberlin Area, a non-partisan voter mobilization organization, held a meeting Thursday at the Oberlin Public Library to discuss Issues 10, 11, 12, 25 and 26. If passed, these issues would all renew existing taxes for five years, though they would not add any new...