SUMMARY: East Holmes, Millersburg take their case for new revenue to the people
Proponents of the East Holmes School Districts 3.82 mills levy and Millersburgs .5 percent income tax have taken their causes directly to the voters.
Millersburg Council and village employees canvassed the village in October, going door-to-door with a sheet of frequently asked questions. East Holmes Superintendant Joe Edinger has led an informational campaign by staff, appearing at 25 school and community events since August.
While they are seeking the support of all they meet, both Edinger and Millersburg Mayor Jeff Huebner feel they must do whatever it takes to get an informed voter to the polls.
Short of wearing a sandwich board on the courthouse lawn, I dont know what more we can do, Huebner said. Going door to door, thats our way of getting to the individual face to face.
The fact sheet includes a link to the village website, www.millersburgohio.com On the website, along with detailed information on village finances, are contact numbers for council. Huebner said he will talk to anyone who calls right up to, and including, Nov. 8.
Edingers last turn promoting the levy in public will be the East Holmes Community Day event Nov. 5. His e-mail and office number will also be open to voters before and after Nov. 5, through election day.
Being visible may not get everyone talking to us (but) they can see who they are entrusting their money with, Edinger said. I cant meet people from behind my desk.
Voters for the most part appear ready to listen.
I havent had anyone come out and say, no way, Im not voting for this, Edinger said. Huebner said the people he has talked to have been respectful and open.
Millersburg Village .5 income tax
Millersburg is seeking the income tax to offset losses to the general fund brought on by the phasing out of the tangible personal property tax. Over the last few years, the village has avoided deficits by trimming back overtime and increasing employee contributions for benefits. Paving has been limited to potholes and crack sealing for the last three years. Major road projects in that time have been funded solely through grant dollars and stimulus money.
To bring back the village to operating levels of four years ago will take an estimated $468,000 per year, Clerk/Treasurer Karen Shaffer said.
The .5 percent increase will generate an estimated $500,000.
Even with new revenue, the village is expected to run a deficit of $150,000 through April 2012 alone. To meet the shortfall, the village laid off two street department employees.
Shaffer said anyone with questions can start finding answers in the detailed breakdown of village finances on the website.
You can see how much it takes just to run the village, Shaffer said. I dont think people realize the fixed cost of running the pumps at the wells so they have running water or what it takes to keep street lights on at night.
To learn more about the income tax or contact council, visit www.millersburgohio.com
East Holmes 3.82 mill, five year operating levy
The phasing out of tangible personal property tax will equal a $1.5 million hit to East Holmes, and the levy will raise just enough to offset the loss. Even with the levy, the district will need to continue to find savings of $300,000 a year for the next several years, Treasurer Marsha Clark said.
The district has maintained an excellent rating on the state board of education report cards at a lower cost per pupil than the state average. The annual cost in property tax to the district per $100,000 home value is currently $804.83, the lowest of 11 contingous school districts. If the new levy passes, the cost to the owner of a $100,000 home will go up about $120 to $925.17 per year, still lower than 10 of the districts.
To find savings, the district has reduced staff by 17 positions. Teachers have agreed to a wage freeze and larger contributions to benefits.
The community day celebration Nov. 5 at Hiland High School runs from 9 a.m. to noon and includes corn hole and ping pong tournaments, films, a car wash and biddy ball at the Perry Reese Center. A celebration of the school district in general, it is also a chance to speak with school officials about the levy.
Were hoping that between all the activities, something will appeal to everyone to come out and talk to us, Edinger said.
At the event will be literature explaining the districts financial condition. The district has been cutting into its carryover and will be in the red in the 2015 - 2016 school year without new revenue.
To learn more about the levy visit the districts Facebook page. Edinger and Clark can be contacted at 330-893-2610 or ehlm_jedinger@tccsa.net or ehlm_clark@tccsa.net
