Issue 6 renewal aims to fix roads, invest in Dayton housing

DAYTON, Ohio ( WDTN ) — Voters in Dayton are being asked to renew a quarter percent income tax this March.

That money funds a variety of city services including street paving and the police department.

Issue 6, formerly known as Issue 9, is up for renewal on March 19.

It would generate $10 million annually to the City of Dayton’s general fund to support public safety including road repairs and vacant lot maintenance.

The city engineer says they need the money since inflation has affected street repairs tremendously.

“It’s slowed us on our ability to pave the amount of streets, you know, the cost has gone up exponentially and we’ve seen a significant increase in our asphalt prices and inflation,” said David Escobar, city engineer. “We’re trying to get creative, but you know, it kind of is what it is. We’re at the mercy of the marketplace.”

If the levy renewal fails, Escobar says residents would feel the impact. He says there would be a significant decrease in the city’s ability to pay for some of the backlog of residential streets that need to be paved.

If passed, Issue 6 would also allocate $650,000 per year for housing investments.

The city hasn’t specified how the money will be used, but supporters are thankful. One local community organizer says the ideal layout would be for improved tenant conditions.

Destiny Brown says the city of Dayton struggles with mold, needed repairs and quality inspections. And most importantly, she says funding like this makes the community feel valued.

“I think there is concern that even with the allocation of these dollars, it means that nothing will be different, because tenant voices are not a part of the solution-making process,” said Destiny Brown, a community organizer.

Brown also says the city needs to set a standard protocol for inspections, also sharing that the Issue 6 funding could help with attorneys for tenants in need. It could also help reduce the city’s homeless population.

For a full description of Issue 6, click here .

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