By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

Norwood residents face a major tax increase on the Aug. 3 ballot, while Mount Healthy voters will be asked for increases for schools and city fire operations.

There were several school and municipal issues put on Aug. 3 special election ballots in Greater Cincinnati by Thursday's filing deadline.

Municipalities

• Norwood: Facing a $3.5 million budget deficit, leaders have put a five-year, 14-mill emergency levy on the Aug. 3 ballot. It is expected to raise $5.2 million each of the next five years. If approved, the owner of a $100,000 house would pay $418 more per year beginning in January.

• Mount Healthy: A 5-mill, five-year fire levy expected to raise $425,000 each of the next five years. It would replace an expiring fire levy. The next tax increase on a $100,000 house is $105 annually.

Schools

In Hamilton County, voters will be asked to approve money issues in the Mount Healthy, Sycamore and Winton Woods school districts.

• Mount Healthy Schools: A five-year, 1.54-mill emergency levy renewal that would continue to bring $500,000 to the district each of the next five years. Taxes would not increase. Money will be used to fund existing programs.

• Sycamore Schools: 7.9-mill continuing operating levy that would generate an additional $12.6 million annually for daily operations. Taxes would increase about $242 annually on a $100,000 house.

• Winton Woods Schools: An 8.95-mill combination levy that includes 7.95 mills that would raise $3.9 million annually and a 1-mill permanent improvement levy that would raise $495,000 annually. Cost: $274 on a $100,000 house.Money would be used for existing programs and to reinstate high school busing.

The only voters going to the polls in Clermont County will be those who live in the Clermont Northeastern or Williamsburg schools.

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

• Williamsburg Schools: 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 home.

In Warren County, Franklin voters are being asked to approve three separate issues for the schools, while those in Waynesville must decide whether to repeal an income tax Village Council approved last month.

In Butler County, residents in the Edgewood, Fairfield and Monroe schools will see money issues. Monroe residents are also being asked to increase their income tax from 1 percent to 1.5 percent.

E-mail suek@infionline.net