Toledo voters said no to Issue 16 — and now the city, its police and firefighters, and the neighborhoods that rely on them are waiting to find out what that “no” actually costs.

The proposed 0.25% city income-tax increase, restricted to public safety, was rejected by about 6,000 votes in Tuesday’s election, according to preliminary results reported by The Blade. The tax would have raised roughly $25 million a year for four years, funding police and fire recruit classes, gang enforcement, and residential traffic enforcement.

Without it, the city’s working budget contemplates about 73 layoffs of filled positions — roughly half from police and fire — Deputy Mayor Abby Arnold told City Council’s Finance Committee in October. Also on the table: no new police or fire recruit classes, a reduced Gang Task Force and Fire Investigation Unit, no residential speed enforcement, and cuts to youth programming, public pools, nuisance mowing, and curbside recycling.

At Wednesday’s City Council meeting, firefighters made clear they want answers now. Toledo Firefighters Local 92 President Joe Cira attended the meeting and told council: “If there’s gonna be a bunch of layoffs, I need to know.”

Councilman George Sarantou said he didn’t know what the layoffs would look like. The administration said hard figures would be available Nov. 15 — eleven days after the vote.

What happens next: the administration is expected to present the layoff numbers on Nov. 15, and council will then have to decide how to close the gap — through cuts, a new revenue proposal, or some combination — before the budget is finalized.

The same meeting also deadlocked on the Flock-camera resolution.

Toledo skyline — MrJacon000 / Wikimedia Commons