Cleveland officials acknowledge that tax increase is the only way to pay for police reform [View all]

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland's mayor has insisted that court-mandated reforms to the city's police department are not the only reason he is asking voters for a municipal income tax increase, but officials appear to recognize that it is necessary, otherwise the city would be forced to make cuts to staff and services.

The reforms are mandatory, and if the city doesn't have more money, something will likely have to give.

The head of the team monitoring the city's reforms says his goal is to not force the city to pay for things it doesn't need. At the same time, he said the team must hold the city to a settlement it reached with the U.S. Justice Department, known as a consent decree, and make the necessary changes to the police department.

The City Council will vote Wednesday on whether to put the proposed tax increase, which would raise the municipal rate from 2 percent to 2.5 percent, in front of the voters. If passed, it is expected to generate more than $80 million in the first year.

Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2016/07/cleveland_officials_acknowledg.html