The voters of Wilmington will soon decide whether to pass the proposed .5 percent temporary municipal income tax increase that appears on the Nov. 8 ballot.

The Wilmington News Journal endorses this issue. Passage is necessary for, as phrased by the Campaign for Wilmington’s Future, “the quality of life residents have come to expect in a community once ranked as one of the best small towns in America.”

The measure deserves voter approval to maintain the level of services the city provides including fire and police protection, snow removal, transit services and street repair.

If it’s not approved, city services, and therefore quality of life, will necessarily suffer.

The new total 1.5 percent tax will be paid only by those earning incomes within the city of Wilmington. An estimated 79 percent of the tax will be paid by people who don’t live in Wilmington but who work here and benefit from city services.

Social Security and pensions won’t be taxed. The tax is temporary and will not impact retirement benefits.

And that new rate, if approved, will still be at or below neighboring cities including Hillsboro, Xenia and Washington Court House.

The Campaign for Wilmington’s Future has pointed out that in the past decade, Wilmington was hit by an historic loss of jobs: “As a result, Wilmington’s tax base has been cut in half, resulting in the city operating on supplemental funds for the past six years, despite cuts throughout the city government … the city is in dire financial straits despite efforts to cut costs, including eliminating positions, hiring and pay freezes, and department consolidation.” And “the State of Ohio has balanced its budget in part by making significant cuts to local governments like Wilmington.”

Additional revenues will be invested to maintain streets and enforce building codes to prevent derelict properties from destroying investments made by homeowners and businesses.

Please vote “yes” for the Wilmington .5 percent temporary municipal income tax on the Nov. 8 ballot.