By Sue Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

On March 2, voters in four Southwest Ohio counties will decide 19 ballot issues in 18 school districts, one of the largest filings in recent history. In Butler County alone, half of the 10 districts have issues on the March ballot.

Butler County

• Edgewood: 6.9-mill continuing levy that would raise $2.49 million annually. Cost: $211.32 annually on a $100,000 house.

• Fairfield: 6.9-mill continuing levy that would raise $9.1 million annually. Cost: $211.11 on a $100,000 house.

• Lakota: 11.67-mill combination levy that includes a 9.3-mill continuing levy that would raise $21 million annually and a 2.37-mill bond issue that would provide $84.9 million for school construction and renovation of existing buildings. Cost: $536.09 on a $150,000 house.

• Middletown: Renewal of a three-year, 3.8-mill, emergency levy that would raise $4 million for three years. Taxes would not increase.

• Ross: A 4-mill combination levy that includes a 1-mill levy expected to bring in $270,169 annually for day-to-day operations and a 3-mill permanent improvement levy, expected to bring in $810,508 annually that can only be used for capital expenditures such as building maintenance, textbooks and educational equipment. Cost: $122.50 on a $100,000 house.

Hamilton County

• Loveland: A combination levy that includes a 7-mill continuing levy that is expected to raise $4.3 million annually, replacing a 7-mill levy that expires in December 2004 and a new 5-mill continuing permanent improvement levy expected to provide $3 million annually for building maintenance and other projects. The net tax increase on a $100,000 house is $188.

• Madeira: 6.87-mill bond issue that would provide $28 million to build schools to replace Dumont Primary and Sellman Middle schools and expand the high school. Cost: $240 on a $100,000 house.

• Reading: 8.5-mill continuing operating levy that would raise $1,758,000 annually. Cost: $250 per year on a $100,000 house.

• St. Bernard-Elmwood Place: Renewal of a 5-year, 8.47-mill levy that would raise $1,675,000 each of the next five years with collections beginning in 2005. There would be no tax increase.

• Three Rivers: 12-mill continuing levy that would raise $4.3 million annually for day-to-day operations. Cost: $347 on a $100,000 house.

• Winton Woods: A combination levy that includes 7.95 mills that would raise $3.9 million annually and a 1-mill permanent improvement levy that would raise $493,000 annually. Cost: $274.09 on a $100,000 house.

Clermont County

• Batavia: 6.9-mill operating levy expected to raise $1.344 million annually for day-to-day operations. Cost: $211 on a $100,000 house.

• Clermont Northeastern: 4.9-mill permanent improvement levy expected to raise $1.2 million annually to pay for textbooks, upgrading technology and building/grounds maintenance. Cost: $150 a year on a $100,000 house.

• West Clermont: 7.9-mill, five-year emergency levy expected to raise $9.75 million annually. Cost: $242 on a $100,000 house.

• Williamsburg: 6.4-mill, five-year levy that includes renewing 2.8 mills and adding 3.6 mills. The levy would raise $651,116 each of the next five years with collections beginning in January 2005. Cost: net increase of $110 annually on a $100,000 house.

Warren County

• Franklin: 7.43-mill combination levy that includes 5.7 mills for day-to-day operations and a 1.73-mill bond issue that would add classrooms at seven schools. The levy portion would bring about $2.3 million annually to district coffers. Cost: $227.54 on a $100,000 house.

• Franklin: A 0.39-mill bond issue would provide $2.45 million for improvements at the stadium and money to build a multipurpose room. Cost: $11.94 on a $100,000 house.

• Mason: 1.78-mill bond issue for construction of a preschool through first-grade school and additions at Mason Intermediate School. Debt would be restructured so taxes would not increase.

• Springboro: 5.85-mill bond issue that would provide $61.5 million for construction of two elementary schools and renovations to existing schools. Cost: $179.15 on a $100,000 house.

Other issues on March 2 ballot

Other March 2 ballot issues:

Butler County

• A 0.5-mill Butler County Mental Health operating levy for five years.

• Hamilton: A 0.5-mill levy for five years for city bus service.

• Liquor sales for Marcum Conference Center, Oxford precinct 4HL; and Sunday liquor sales for Berkley Square Retirement Community, Hamilton precinct 2AR.

Warren County

• Harlan Township: A new 1-mill fire levy for five years.

• Waynesville: A new 3.5-mill police levy for five years.

• Sunday liquor sales for Fat Bob's, Lebanon precinct M; Fiesta Bravo, Lebanon precinct EB; Strike Zone, Franklin precinct NEC; and Applebee's, Springboro precinct SW.

Clermont County

• Sunday liquor sales for Wolfies Tavern, Miami Township precinct I; Pair-A-Dice, Goshen Township precinct H; Elk Run Golf Club, Batavia Township precinct C; Miguels, Batavia Township precinct K; AJ's Alley, Batavia Township precinct F; and Jeffrey D. Hinkle, Williamsburg precinct A.

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E-mail suek@infionline.net