Renewal levy on ballot for Orrville schools
A number of levies will be on the ballot on Nov. 8 in Wayne County.
No new money is being asked for in two school local levies on the Nov. 8 ballot, but at a time of economic woes, high gas prices and inflation not seen in a generation, will voters in Orrville and the Triway district be eager to pony up to support the schools?
“Our voters have been good supporters in the past,” said Mark Dickerhoof, Orrville City Schools treasurer. “Right now people are wanting to put up signs. It’s a good sign. I think for the most part, most people have a good understanding that good communities need good schools.”
Orrville City Schools will have a renewal issue on the ballot. If passed, it will continue to provide the district with $1.6 million annually. This amount, which will not include a single dollar of new tax money, will represent 9% of the total operating budget of the school district.
The tax originally was approved by voters 19 years ago and was renewed in 2007 and 2013. Dickerhoof said it has been going on eight years since Orrville Schools asked for any new money.
“This is a renewal; it’s not a new tax,” he said. “That’s important to remember. The school board has been good stewards of your money in the past. It’s been a long time since we’ve asked for new money. We’re trying to stretch their dollars as well as we can.”
The district is looking to avoid an operating deficit of a bit more than $1.6 million and pass a levy outside the 10-mill limitation estimated by the county auditor to average 5.95 mills for each dollar of valuation, which amounts to about 60 cents for each $100 of valuation for 10 years, starting in 2023 and first due in 2024.
Triway, which is in the process of building a new school campus for all its students, also has a renewal levy on the ballot. The renewal is a 5.5 mill levy to continue meeting current operating expenses.
If renewed, homeowners would continue paying a cost of 55 cents for each $100 of valuation that would continue for 10 years beginning in 2022, first due in 2023.
Other renewals to be voted on in the area include a Wayne County Tax Levy, Wayne County Public Library Levy and a Wooster Township emergency services tax. Voters also will decide on an additional emergency service tax.
The county tax levy renewal will benefit Wayne County Children Services and the care and placement of abused, neglected and dependent children at a rate not exceeding 1.6 mills for each dollar of valuation — 16 cents per $100 of valuation — for 10 years, starting in 2023 and first due in 2024.
The library renewal is actually a renewal and increase. There will be a 1.1 mill renewal and an increase of 0.2 mill to constitute a tax for the benefit of the Wayne County Public Library for the purposes of current expenses not exceeding 1.3 mills for each dollar of valuation — 13 cents for each $100 of valuation — for five years, starting in 2023, due in calendar year 2024.
Wooster Township voters will decide on a fire and emergency medical protection renewal at a rate not exceeding 2 mills for each dollar of valuation — 20 cents per $100 of valuation — for five years starting in 2023 and first due in 2024. They also will vote on an additional levy for fire and emergency medical protection at a rate not exceeding 2.75 mills for each dollar of valuation — 27.5 cents per $100 of valuation — for a continuing period of time starting in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023.