Bethel’s 10-year, 3.49-mill levy would keep existing residents’ tax rates the same if passed. But because it is a substitute levy rather than a renewal, it would allow tax revenue to grow in future years via collections from new construction in the small district just east of Tipp City.
RELATED: Kettering schools seek levy earlier than expected
The actual ballots from the Miami County Board of Elections refer to the levy as a renewal rather than a substitute in the title, before correctly asking voters in the full ballot text, “Shall a tax levy substituting for an existing levy be imposed?”
The Nov. 6 issues list that has been on the Miami County Board of Elections web site this fall has incorrectly said the Bethel levy is to fund “new land or real property improvements,” rather than day-to-day operational expenses. Another “federal write-in” notice on the county website has listed the levy at 3.45 mills rather than the correct 3.49 mills.
Miami County Board of Elections Director Bev Kendall said the errors were her fault, not the school district’s.
“On the ballot language, we have the renewal, rather than the substitute on Bethel,” Kendall said. “I probably just took it from another year and didn’t catch that … That’s my error.”
RELATED: Beavercreek schools cite rising costs as levy reason
The ballot language will remain the same through the election. Kendall said the Board of Elections will fix the other errors on the web site’s issues list and write-in notice. Asked about the validity of the election given the ballot wording, the Ohio Secretary of State’s office said that issue should be handled by the county board of elections and the local school board.
The Bethel levy raises $531,000 per year, according to the Miami County Auditor’s Office, in a school district with a $13.3 million annual general fund budget. It would continue to cost the owner of a $100,000 home $106.88 per year.
Bethel Schools Treasurer Brennon Hattery said the levy will fund day-to-day operational expenses such as utilities, bus fuel, custodial services, building insurance and state audit fees. This levy goes to a separate fund, Hattery said, and doesn’t pay for staff salaries and benefits, which make up the majority of school budgets.
Other substitute levies
• Franklin schools: Voters will decide Nov. 6 on a 15.89-mill substitute levy that would combine two large, existing Franklin City Schools levies into one, providing another five years of day-to-day operating money. School officials say one main reason for combining the levies is to avoid the voter fatigue of repeatedly having to renew them in back-to-back years.
Warren County Auditor Matt Nolan confirmed that the combined levy, if passed, would mean the schools continue to receive that $7.18 million annually, with the cost per $100,000 home remaining at $528.28 a year. Because the two existing levies expire at the end of 2019 and 2020, the schools’ existing revenue stream wouldn’t change in 2019 if the levy is rejected.
RELATED: Greene County Career Center seeks bond for new facility
• Greenon schools: Like Franklin, Greenon aims to combine two existing levies into a single substitute, where existing taxpayers' rates would actually drop slightly, but the schools could gain future revenue if new home or business construction occurs.
If the substitute levy for day-to-day operating costs passes, the schools would continue to collect that $1.7 million per year as part of their $16 million general fund budget. The cost for the owner of a $100,000 home would drop from $232 annually to $219.
Regular renewal levies
• Troy schools: Voters will decide whether to renew a 1.1-mill permanent improvement levy for another five years. The levy would continue to raise $715,000 per year and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $30.28 annually. Permanent improvement levies have to be used on longer-life assets, such as building maintenance, or buying buses, textbooks and other items.
• Tipp City schools: Voters will decide whether to renew a 2.0-mill permanent improvement levy, and this time make it permanent. The levy would continue to raise $669,000 per year and continue to cost the owner of a $100,000 home $49.94 annually.
RELATED: Brookville pairs school levy with bond refinancing
• Yellow Springs schools: The district is asking voters to renew a 1.2-mill permanent improvement levy for another five years. The levy would continue to raise $138,000 per year and continue to cost the owner of a $100,000 home $30.92 annually.
• Newton schools: The small Miami County district hopes voters will renew a 0.75-percent school income tax for another three years to pay for regular operating expenses. This individual levy makes up almost half of Newton's total 1.75 percent school income tax.
• Twin Valley schools: The small Preble County district is asking voters to renew a 0.75-percent school income tax for another five years, to pay for regular operating expenses. This individual levy makes up half of Twin Valley's total 1.5 percent school income tax.
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School levies Nov. 6
Substitute levies: Bethel, Franklin, Greenon
Renewal levies: Troy, Tipp City, Yellow Springs, Newton, Twin Valley
* For previous stories on school levies for Kettering, Beavercreek, Brookville and the Greene County Career Center, visit DaytonDailyNews.com.
GET READY FOR ELECTION DAY
Voters guide online: Compare the other candidates on your ballot using our interactive voters guide on our website daytondailynews.com/voterguide
Newsletter: Sign up for our daily Ohio Politics newsletter for the latest on Election 2018 and the news of the day
Twitter: Stay up to date with the latest from the campaign trail on @Ohio_Politics
Facebook: Speak out on the issues and candidates on our Ohio Politics Facebook page
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