New Philadelphia Officials Say More Study Needed Before RITA Decision
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Aug. 27, 2026) — The New Philadelphia Finance Committee is continuing to study whether the city should outsource income-tax collections to RITA, the Regional Income Tax Agency, as officials review possible cost savings and service impacts.
Committee Chair Steve Rippeth says no decision has been made. Members are still reviewing costs, potential savings, and possible effects on residents, businesses and tax department employees. They also want more input from Mayor Joel Day, who was unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting.
“I want to begin by emphasizing this discussion didn’t start a week ago. The public discourse has, but there’s been a lot of investigation and discussion that has gone on behind the scenes in analyzing data regarding the Regional Income Tax Agency. So public discussion is rather recent, but this is not something that we’ve gone into lightly. We’ve done a lot of due diligence. And our purpose here isn’t to come in with a predetermined answer,” Rippeth said.
Rippeth says RITA’s average collection cost is just over 1 percent of revenue, compared with the city’s current rate of about 2 to nearly 3 percent. He says cost is only one part of the discussion.
“That is not something I take lightly. The people who have worked for this city are valued and do a great job. This is not a reflection on them whatsoever. It’s just looking at are there more efficient ways to do what the city has to do. So with that in mind, I know there are going to be ramifications regardless of what this body decides. But the one thing I do know is maintaining things just as they are probably is not the best interest of what we’re trying to accomplish here,” Rippeth said.
Committee members agreed they will not meet RITA’s September deadline to join at the start of 2027, saying they need more time to study the move.
Rippeth says the mayor is also comfortable slowing the process and considering a possible mid-year transition in 2027 if the city decides to join RITA.