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WEST CHESTER TWP. — Miami University is teaming up with community organizations to educate Butler County voters on five tax levy issues.
“We are Butler County when it comes to higher education,” said David Macejko, Director of Advancement at the Miami University Voice of America Learning Center. “We’re a learning venture, and what we hope to accomplish is to provide an opportunity for voters to learn.”
The public is invited to a forum on local and county tax levies from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Learning Center auditorium, 7847 VOA Park Drive, at the corner of Cox Road and VOA Park Drive in West Chester Twp.
The event is part of the Tower Series, sponsored by The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty and the Voice of America Learning Center Community & Alumni Network. The West Chester/Liberty Chamber Alliance also is part of this forum.
Retired educator and local developer Samuel Brewer will moderate the panel, posing questions to representatives who will be speaking on behalf of each of the levies.
“The whole point of the panel discussion is for people to get information first-hand about the issues,” he said. “That’s how folks are going to be able to make a better decision come election day. I’m looking forward to it, and I think it will be a very interesting and a very helpful session.”
Joining him on the panel will be WCPO-TV reporter Deb Silverman and Pulse-Journal community reporter Lindsey Hilty. The public is encouraged to submit questions for the panel in advance at butlercountylevyforum@gmail.com. There also will be an opportunity for submitting questions prior to the 7 p.m. starting time the evening of the event for the panel to review.
There are two county-wide issues on the November ballot. Issue 4 is a proposed new 0.5-mill, six-year levy to support Butler County MetroParks. Issue 6 is a renewal of a senior services levy, which provides in-home care services to seniors. The 1.3 mills is a reduction from the original 2 mills passed in 2005.
In Liberty and West Chester townships, Issue 2 is 10 year emergency levy at 7.9 mills to avoid an operating deficit for Lakota Local Schools.
Liberty Twp. has a 4-mill replacement fire levy, Issue 18, which will continue the level of emergency services and response times. West Chester Twp. has a police levy, a replacement of a current 7-mill levy, which will appear on ballots as Issue 21.