They are among 35 southwest Ohio communities asking voters for financial help next month.

Some of them, such Deerfield Township and Trenton, are fast-growing suburbs grappling for ways to pay for the increased demands on services. Others, such as Evendale and Mount Healthy, are older communities that have been hit with hard economic times.

"What we're really trying to do is build a better community," said Mount Healthy's Safety Service Director Bill Kocher. "We've just been really stagnant over the last few years."

In the county seat of the region's fastest-growing county, Lebanon officials are asking voters to pass a quarter-percent earnings tax hike. If the change from 1 percent to 1.25 percent is approved, it would be the Warren County city's first increase in more than 30 years.

Two years ago, Lebanon voters turned down a half-percentage point increase. Since then, the city has made several fiscal cuts and officials say the bare-bones budget shouldn't be cut any more.

"It's very needed," Councilman Ben Cole said. "It has a minimal impact on the financial situation of our residents but it gives us the money we need to hire more police because they're understaffed ... and we need to put more money into roadway improvements."

For the third time in the past year, Monroe voters will be asked to support a half-percentage-point income tax increase. If approved, the city's income tax will rise from 1 percent to 1.5 percent and the extra revenue would go toward police and fire wages and capital improvements.

If it fails, the Butler County city's finance director warns the budget woes would continue.

"We may have to make some serious cuts that we've so far avoided by going bare bones for the last year and a half," Finance Director Jay Stewart said.

The tax would affect 25 percent to 30 percent of the city's 7,133 residents and the majority of the increase would be paid by those who work in Monroe but live elsewhere.

Despite city officials' stance that they've cut all that they can, some residents like Brenda Holden won't support the hike.

"Everything has gone up and people are just going to have to do with what they have," Holden said.

Greenhills is one of several communities with multiple money issues on the Nov. 2 ballot. Residents are asked to renew a 1.5-mill, five-year levy as well as pass a 1.39-mill bond issue that would generate $1 million and continue a program that improves blighted properties.

"With any new issue you're always concerned are (the residents) willing to pay the $40 for this," said Municipal Manager David Moore. "We're hopeful that this will go on and we can continue this program."

But some residents question the motive behind it.

"I just feel very strongly against this because I'm wondering whose hand is in this," said four-year Greenhills resident Jim Broz.

But some local officials think that passing their respective levies is the only way to continue providing the level of services.

"This is the only hope (the residents) have of their streets being fixed and I hope they know that," Middletown Mayor Bob Wells said of the city's proposed earnings-tax hike.

Money issues

Thirty-six southwest Ohio communities are asking voters for money. "Raises" indicates the amount the tax would generate each year; "cost" is what the tax would mean to the owner of a $100,000 home.

BUTLER COUNTY:

Middletown: Increase earnings tax by quarter-percent, from 1.5 percent to 1.75 percent, for capital improvements and roads. Raises: $3 million. Cost: Varies by income.

Monroe: Increase earnings tax by 50 percent, from 1 to 1.5 percent. Raises: $1.5 million. Cost: Varies by income.

Seven Mile: 2.69-mill, five-year renewal levy for operating expenses. Raises: $13,403. Cost: Remains $34.

Trenton: 1.5-mill, five-year replacement fire levy. Raises: $213,724. Cost: $45 (up from $35).

Trenton: Charter amendment to restore 1.5 percent income tax credit (cut to 1 percent earlier this year), and to allow residents to vote on any future income tax changes. Cost: City would lose $350,000 annually if full credit restored.

Wayne Twp.: 1.3-mill, three-year additional fire levy. Raises: $91,719. Cost: $39.

CLERMONT COUNTY:

Amelia: 1.4-mill replacement levy for operating expenses. Raises: $96,765 Cost: $27.69

Bethel: 0.8-mill five-year replacement levy for the Grant Memorial Building and Burke Park. Raises: $23,123 Cost: $1.67.

Goshen Township: 1.5-mill levy for seven years for the township park district. Raises: $293,694 Cost: $45.94.

Miami Township: 1.5-mill levy renewal for parks. Raises: $1.1 million Cost: 0

Milford: 5.3-mill, five-year fire replacement levy. Raises: $845,800 Cost: $17.96.

Ohio Township: 6-mill continuing levy for fire, ambulance and EMS. Raises: $213,766 Cost: $183.75.

Owensville: 10-mill, five-year additional levy and 1.5-mill replacement levy for expenses. Raises: $$108,039 Cost: $311.74.

Pierce Township: 1.5-mill continuing levy for streets, roads and bridges. Raises: $391,702 Cost: $45.94.

Washington Township: 1-mill continuing levy for police. Raises: $191,594 Cost: $30.62.

HAMILTON COUNTY:

Addyston: 2-mill, five-year fire levy. Raises: $83,000 Cost: Not available.

Cheviot: 4.25-mill, five-year operating levy. Raises: $518,000 Cost: $95.

Cleves: 1.8-mill, five-year levy for streets. Raises: $75,000 Cost: Not available.

Delhi Twp.: 3.77-mill continuing police levy. Raises: $1.7 million Cost: $111.

Delhi Twp.: 4.55-mill continuing fire levy. Raises: $2.1 million Cost: $134.

Evendale: 0.2 percent income tax for operating expenses. Raises: $1.8 million Cost: Varies by income.

Glendale: 8.9-mill, four-year operating levy. Raises: $814,000 Cost: Not available.

Golf Manor: 7-mill, five-year operating levy. Raises: $287,000 Cost: $149

Green Twp.: 1.5-mill continuing police and fire levy. Raises: $1.6 million Cost: Not available.

Green Twp.: 1-mill continuing operating levy. Raises: $1.1 million Cost: Not available.

Greenhills: 1.5-mill five-year levy for streets. Raises: $36,000 Cost: $18 with rollbacks

Greenhills: 1.39-mill, 20-year bond issue for buying and improving properties. Raises: $1 million Cost: $40

Harrison Twp.: 1.89-mill continuing police levy. Raises: $181,000 Cost: Not available.

Harrison Twp.: 1.59-mill continuing fire levy. Raises: $152,000 Cost: Not available.

Miami Twp.: 0.46-mill, four-year operating levy. Raises: $199,000 Cost: Not available.

Milford: 5.3-mill, five-year replacement fire levy. Raises: $845,800 Cost: $18.

Mt. Healthy: 0.5 percent income tax for operating expenses. Raises: $300,000 after mill rollback Cost: Varies by income.

North College Hill: 0.5-mill, five-year levy for senior services. Raises: $67,000 Cost: $14.73 (up from $11.35)

Symmes Twp.: 1.2-mill, five-year renewal levy for parks. Raises: $519,000 Cost: Not available.

Terrace Park: 3.5-mill operating levy. Raises: $332,000 Cost: Not available.

Terrace Park: 1.48-mill, 25-year bond issue for fire truck and buildings. Raises: Not available. Cost: Not available.

WARREN COUNTY:

Deerfield Twp.: 2.5 mill continuing police levy. Raises: $2 million Cost: $76 (currently pay $52)

Lebanon: An increase of .25 percent to the 1 percent income tax. Raises: $1.3 million annually Costs: varies by income

Harveysburg: A five-year, 2.5 mill, street maintenance levy

Mason: Should Mason be allowed to impose an income tax on a shareholder's distributive share of the net profits of an S corporation. Raises: unknown Cost: no additional cost.

Waynesville: Referendum on .5 percent income tax increase Raises: $300,000 Cost: varies by income

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