WAYNESVILLE, Ohio -- Waynesville residents gathered at Waynesville Middle School on Tuesday to hear more about a proposed 1 percent income tax for the village.

“This is a tough thing to do and we look at the long-term interests of this village,” said village councilman Alan Bunker.

The village is currently in fiscal emergency. The state of Ohio has given the area until Dec. 29 to come up with a revised recovery plan to address its financial issues. Village manager Bruce Snell said the village fell into fiscal emergency because of a $233,000 deficit.

“With deficit you’re dealing with spending more revenue than you actually have,” Snell said.

A part of the village’s recovery plan includes implementing a five year, 1 percent income tax for residents. The proposal says residents who pay income tax to other municipalities would receive a 100 percent credit toward the Waynesville income tax.

The other part of the plan involves selling the village’s government center.

Resident after resident spoke out against the plan during the meeting.

“We voted in November, we voted ‘No.’ So why are you continually wanting to put the income tax on there?” asked resident Jeff Chaney.

Diane Wood asked, “What makes you think you can count on steady income of one percent when the economy is like it is today?”

The village council is scheduled to vote on the income tax proposal at its meeting on Monday, Dec. 21, at 7:30 p.m.