Most Shaker Heights residents say they’re willing to pay more income tax to preserve their standard of living. And they made that point at the ballot box yesterday.

About two-thirds of voters approved a .5-percent increase in Tuesday’s special election. 

This means they’ll pay about 30 percent more to offset a multi-million dollar deficit, that Shaker leaders say was mostly caused by the elimination of Ohio’s estate tax. 

But critics say Shaker’s administration failed to make vital cuts to the city’s budget, and there was more to be done instead of a tax hike.  Mark Zetzer is with the Shaker Heights Taxpayers Union, which campaigned against the increase.