Mayor to Fight State's Plan to Take Over Local Tax Collection

Mayor Tom Perciak wants to nip in the bud a controversial proposal by state officials to take over municipal income tax collections.

Perciak is inviting other mayors in the 24th State Senate District to join him at Strongsville City Hall March 6 to tell State Sen. Tom Patton how they feel.

"We do not need the state collecting our income tax dollars and disbursing them as they see fit," Perciak said.

In October, Strongsville joined  in passing a resolution opposing the proposal, which aimed to simplify tax returns for small businesses that have operations in different locations by having a state-run agency collect city income taxes.

Strongsville that income tax is a city's biggest source of revenue and "any disruption or interference" in the collection would be harmful and cities "cannot afford another potential loss in revenue."

Perciak said he is extending an invitation to other mayors to join him in his discussion with Patton.

"We're taking a more regional approach to this," he said. "We need to stop this from happening."