Union Voters Reject Income Tax Hike Again

Residents voted down a proposed 1 percent city income tax increase meant to fund police and fire services.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in City Hall

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a low-rise municipal civic building with a flagpole in deep navy and cream, evoking a local tax decision. — Union voters rejected a proposed 1 percent city income tax increase on Nov. 3 that would have funded police and fire services, with 63.23 percent voting against. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you support a higher local income tax to fund your city's police and fire?

Union residents rejected a proposed 1 percent income tax increase for police and fire services in the Nov. 3 General Election, with 63.23 percent voting against. The vote follows earlier rejections on Nov. 5, 2025 and May 5, 2026.

Why it matters

The city has been transferring general fund money to cover police and fire costs, and it says it needs at least two more full-time firefighters and new equipment. Union residents in Ohio now face continued pressure on city services without the additional revenue the proposal would have provided.

The Nov. 3 General Election tally was 1,807 votes against and 1,051 for the proposed 1 percent increase, which would have raised the city income tax from 1.5 to 2.5 percent. Of the $4.9 million in 2025 income tax revenue, 84.4 percent came from non-resident withholdings, while Union residents contributed $764,000.

The players

John Applegate

John Applegate is the city manager of Union, Ohio, responsible for overseeing municipal operations and budgeting.

Mike Blackwell

Mike Blackwell is the public safety director for the city of Union, Ohio, overseeing police and fire departments.

The details

The proposal would have split the new revenue between police and fire departments, about $1.3 million each, and included a 100 percent tax credit for residents who pay city taxes to other municipalities. It would not have affected property taxes or Social Security retirement income.

Nov. 5, 2025: Residents first rejected the proposed income tax increase, with 68.21 percent voting against.
May 5, 2026: Residents rejected the proposal again, with 709 votes against and 499 in favor.
Nov. 3, 2026: The General Election defeated the increase 63.23 percent to 36.77 percent.
January 2028: The city expects delivery of a new Sutphen fire engine ordered at $916,000.

Political Context

This defeat extends a pattern in which Union voters have rejected the same income tax increase at multiple elections, including Nov. 5, 2025 and May 5, 2026. Opponents have so far prevailed each time, leaving the city to continue covering public safety costs from its general fund.

Residents will not see a new city income tax increase, but the city will continue covering police and fire costs from its general fund. Future service levels and equipment purchases will depend on what alternative funding the city chooses.

The takeaway

Voters have now turned down the same income tax increase at multiple elections, which signals that any future funding proposal for Union's police and fire departments will need a different approach to win support. Watch for the city's plan after the coming weeks of internal discussions.

What happens next

City Manager John Applegate will meet with Public Safety Director Mike Blackwell to discuss police and fire funding, and he expects a clearer picture in about three weeks.