Wednesday, January 27, 1999
Levy renewal may go to a vote
Mt. Healthy board to meet
BY BERNIE MIXON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MOUNT HEALTHY — The Mount Healthy Board of Education will meet next week to discuss whether to place a renewal of an emergency levy on the May ballot.
The emergency levy is expected to be less than 2 mills and would not cost homeowners any additional money, school officials said.
The board will meet at 5 p.m. Monday to discuss the levy.
The deadline to have an issue placed on the ballot is Feb. 18, according to the Hamilton County Board of Elections.
If voters turn down the levy, which generates funds for operating expenses, “it would mean that we will have to incur more reductions starting with the 2000-2001 school year,” said Superintendent David Horine.
Last February, voters ap proved a 6.99-mill continuing operating levy that is expected to raise nearly $1.8 million a year.
The 3.16-mill emergency levy was originally passed in 1982 and generates about $500,000 a year.
It was renewed three times for two years each time. In 1989, with a change in the law, it was renewed for five years and renewed again for five years in 1994.
As the tax valuation has risen, the effective millage has decreased.
This is done because the district is not allowed to collect more than the original $500,000 request.
To get a measure on the ballot, the board of education must first decide how much it needs and send that figure to the Hamilton County auditor's office by Feb. 13.
The discussion on Monday will center on when the mea sure will go on the ballot — May, August or November. “Most of the board is leaning toward May,” Board President Don Wolf said.
“We really need it to keep our standards up where they are,” Mr. Wolf said.
“We're just hoping it will go along smoothly.”
Although this would be the second school tax measure on the ballot in a little over a year, Mr. Horine said the issue may gain voter approval because it comes without a tax increase.
“I think the fact that the millage amount is as low as it is and no additional taxes, I think the voters will be more receptive because of that,” Mr. Horine said.
“I'm also aware that any tax issue on the ballot is going to face a certain level of difficulty with the voters.
“I think it needs to be emphasized that this is not any additional money and will cause a loss of revenue in current funds if it is not renewed this year,” Mr. Horine said.
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