• How much will this Renewal Levy collect? The levy will collect $3.2 million each year for ten years. This represents approximately 4% of our annual budget.

     

    Will this levy raise taxes in our community? NO! This levy was originally passed in 1994 to help fund our school operations, and it can ONLY collect $3.2 million each year, no more, no less. Also, if more new houses or businesses are built in our community, those new property owners will share in raising this amount. If this happens, taxes on individual properties will actually DECREASE because the $3.2 million is spread between more homeowners and business owners.

     

    Even with the recent property value increases, passage of this renewal levy WILL NOT increase taxes, correct? CORRECT! Again, this levy can ONLY collect the flat amount of $3.2 million each year, regardless of fluctuations in property values or the number of properties in our community.

     

    What will this money be used for? This money will continue to pay for our day-to-day operations.  This money will be used to pay for things like educational materials, student services, utilities and employee salaries. Public schools provide a service to a community, much like police and fire departments.  Approximately 85% of our budget goes to pay our employees as we are a service business.

     

    Will this money be used for construction? No. It will only be used to support our day-to-day operations.

     

    Why is it called an "Emergency" Levy? The state of Ohio calls it an Emergency Levy, which is another name for a limited operating levy. An Emergency Levy raises a specific dollar amount, NOT an estimated amount determined from a millage figure, so our residents know the exact dollar amount that the school will receive. 

     

    What are the tax implications of renewing this levy? Any new levy passed BEFORE November 2013 is eligible for a tax CREDIT from the state.  Basically, the state gives homeowners a break by sharing in the responsibility of the levy.  Since this levy was originally passed in 1994, renewing it ensures that homeowners keep that tax credit.  Our community businesses and homeowners all pitch in to raise 3.2 million per year and the state covers about 12.5% of the homeowners’ portion of that. Renewing this levy gives us the opportunity to retain that tax credit but still raise the same amount of money for our district.