With about half of the precincts reporting, the yes votes for the Columbus income tax maintained a lead over the no votes.
With 261 out of 528 precincts reporting, the votes for the income tax increase totaled 24,612 (54%) while votes against the increase totaled 21,331 (46%).
If approved the measure would raise the Columbus income tax by 25% from 2.0% to 2.5%. City officials say it will help erase a $115 million budget deficit and prevent the layoffs of hundreds of police officers and fire fighters.
In the Southwestern City School District, the levy trailed by about 1,000 votes with 1/2 of the precincts reporting.
