SILVERTON - Residents in this northeastern Hamilton County suburb will be asked to vote again on a quarter-percent increase in the city income tax for street repair.

        The May 7 primary vote at first was a tie. After a recount the measure lost by one vote. The tax would generate $230,000 annually, said municipal Manager David Waltz.

        “The city doesn't have enough money to keep up on our street repairs because the bulk of the budget goes for fire, police, trash collections, street cleaning and snow removal,” Mr. Waltz said.

        “We should be repairing about 1 1/2 miles of streets per year, which would cost about $400,000 to $500,000. The money from the tax increase will just get us started to get back on schedule.”

        The extra 0.25 percent would add $75 to the tax bill of a resident earning $30,000 a year, who now pays $300 under the current 1 percent tax.

        Since the tax increase failed in May, Mr. Waltz said the condition of several streets has gone from fair to poor, and some from good to fair.

        Recent inspections showed that Diehl, Elm and Oak avenues and the south end of Plainfield Road has have gone from fair condition to poor.

        He also noted the condition of North Fordham Place, Section Road and South Avenue, going from good to fair condition.

        The streeet renovation plan is listed under the city's five-year plan from 2003-08.

        “We don't expect all the money to come from the tax increase,” Mr. Waltz said. “We will be able to use some existing funds.”

        He also said that the plan calls for renovation of the 50-year-old municipal building at 6860 Plainfield Road, the heart of the city's downtown.

        “We think we will probably got get a 30-year loan for the renovation on the municipal building because interest rates are low,” Mr. Waltz said.

        The income tax measure

        is the subject of a public hearing set for 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the municipal building.

        “We will give a public tour of the building from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday and give residents a chance to ask questions,” Mr. Waltz said.

        Silverton's earning tax is lower than many in the Tristate.

        Cincinnati's is 2.1 percent; Amberley Village, Cheviot, Hamilton, Lincoln Heights, and Woodlawn assess 2 percent; Fairfield, Middletown, Mount Healthy and Reading, 1.5 percent.

        “I think street repair is going to have to take priority,” said Dottie Schwartz of the 6800 block of Stoll Lane.

        “This is so much traffic on this street that it is deteriorating very fast. It is almost like a country road. I am in favor of the tax increase.”

        E-mail ahoward@enquirer.com

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