Toledo, Ohio Development News
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Council Considers Special Assessments, Sidewalk Note, City Services Borrowing, and Small Business Fund Closure
The council reviewed several financial ordinances. Items two, three, and four concern the 2025 assessed services program, levying special assessments for street lighting (downtown and outside downtown) and tree maintenance, with costs collected on property tax bills [cite: 73-77, 80]. Item six authorizes issuing a \$2,520,000 sidewalk note for the 2026 sidewalk program and prior years, funded over 10 years via property taxes [cite: 89-91, 98]. Item seven authorizes a city services borrowing note not to exceed \$30.1 million for the special assessment program (street services, tree maintenance, street lighting), to be issued in December [cite: 118-120, 122]. Two companion ordinances (items eight and nine) propose closing the inactive Small Business Assistance Fund by transferring \$115,000 from the general fund to eliminate a negative net position, with no budgeted revenues or expenditures since 2023 [cite: 130-134, 185-186]. This transfer is not currently budgeted for but would come from the general fund balance [cite: 186, 190].
Toledo Police Department Secures Funds for Violent Crime Reduction, Equipment, and Technology Upgrades
The Toledo Police Department requested authorization to expend up to \$77,000 from the Office of Criminal Justice Services for the Violent Crime Reduction Program grant and up to \$10,000 from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund. The majority of the funding will support overtime for extended operations of the Special Operations Bureau to reduce violent crime. Remaining funds will purchase an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) to aid in crime reduction efforts. No matching funds are required for this grant [cite: 254-256, 257]. The police department also requested authorization to expend \$147,000 from capital improvement funds for the purchase of mobile data terminals (MDTs) for 14 new police vehicles [cite: 291-292]. Additionally, \$32,455.39 from the 2025 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant will be used for equipment and supplies for the Toledo Police Forensic Lab, specifically for opioid-related costs [cite: 306-307]. A further \$105,000 from the law enforcement trust fund will be used to purchase a 3D laser scanner for the traffic section to process crash scenes more efficiently [cite: 312-314]. Finally, \$194,888.88 in grant funds from the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission was authorized for the second quarter of 2026 [cite: 333-334].
Toledo Council Advances Charter Changes and Debates Street Name Removal
The council discussed several proposed charter changes to be submitted to the electors. These include amendments to Section 6.33 and 171 regarding city council employees, granting council more control over its staff [cite: 681, 693-694, 713-718]. Another amendment (Section 87D) clarifies term limits, ensuring that appointed service before a first elected term does not count towards the 12-year limitation, addressing situations where appointees might be unfairly penalized [cite: 688, 696-697, 750-755]. Changes to Sections 13, 14, 17, 83, and 92 aim to align city council and mayor election processes with Ohio Constitution requirements [cite: 689, 698-699]. A final charter amendment (Section 5) changes the process for amending the charter from a resolution to an ordinance, aligning with the Ohio Constitution and simplifying the process [cite: 690-691, 775-785]. The council also debated the removal of the honorary designation 'Monsignor Schmidt Way' [cite: 800-801]. Following extensive discussion and public input, the council supported removing the designation, citing concerns about past actions and the impact on survivors and the community [cite: 843-848, 867-871, 889].
Toledo Council Advances Neighborhood Safety Income Tax Levy to November Ballot
A proposed 1/2% municipal income tax levy for neighborhood safety, police, and fire services was discussed. This temporary levy, if approved by voters, would generate an estimated \$25 million annually and bring Toledo's tax rate in line with the state of Ohio's. The funds are intended to support police and fire personnel, disrupt criminal gang activity, invest in neighborhoods, clean up blight, demolish unsafe structures, and improve road safety. The council's vote is to place the measure on the November 2026 ballot for voter consideration. The levy applies to earned income only and impacts individuals working within the city, regardless of residency. Concerns were raised regarding transparency, the specific allocation of funds, and the communication strategy to inform residents [cite: 437-440, 456-458, 465-467, 479, 491-492, 547, 560-561, 576-578, 605-607, 610, 615, 620-623, 636-638, 643-645, 647, 650, 654, 661-662, 669-671, 679]. Council members emphasized that this vote is to allow residents to decide, not to impose the tax directly [cite: 441, 476-477, 531-533, 607-608, 657, 671-672]. The levy would require renewal by voters every four years [cite: 485-487, 648-650].
Fire Station Six HVAC Repairs Approved Amidst Concerns Over Aging Infrastructure
The Department of Fire and Rescue Operations requested authorization to enter into a contract with Industrial Power Systems, waiving competitive bidding, for an amount not to exceed \$40,000 for repairs to the HVAC system at Fire Station Six (located at 1155 Oak Street). This is necessary due to ongoing issues with the HVAC system, which is approximately 12 years old. The estimated cost reflects current rising prices for parts and labor. The department also agreed to provide a list of all 18 fire stations, their locations, and anticipated replacement timelines for HVAC and other systems by referral [cite: 227-229, 232-233, 236].
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