Crawford County residents will have two major school issues to decide on Nov. 4. One is a Crestline schools income tax. The other is the Pioneer Career & Technology Center (PCTC) replacement levy.
Crestline income tax
Crestline Exempted Village School District is going to the voters to pass a continuing .75 percent income tax for current expenses which include monthly bills such as water, sewer, gas, electric, Internet, insurance, bus fuel, etc.; general supplies like paper, printer cartridges, projector bulbs; classroom supplies like books, computers, software; and wages and benefits of the staff.
“So far we are not in a deficit but we are deficit spending,” said Crestline School Treasurer Bradd Stevens. “We currently spend between $500,000 to $600,000 more then we bring in each year and have been for over spending since 2012. At that rate, if we do not pass a levy our cash balance will be negative $500,000 in Fiscal year 2017. We are currently in fiscal year 2015. In order to cover our current deficit spending we will need between $500,000 and $600,000 annually which is how we came up with the ¾ percent figure.”
Crestline must pass the tax to avoid being placed in Fiscal Caution by the State of Ohio.
For more information about Crestline schools go to www.crestline.k12.oh.us or call 419-683-3647 or here or to their Facebook page.
Pioneer replacement levy
Pioneer Career and Technology Center (Richland County Pioneer Joint Vocational School) is asking for a continuing 1.7 mill replacement levy for current expenses. The levy will maintain the current quality of education, allow for the continued purchase of state-of-the-art equipment and technology, provide basic on-going maintenance and upkeep of buildings and preserve job training programs and teaching staff.
Pioneer superintendent Glenna Cannon explained the replacement. “Of the two levies, one was passed in 1970 at .85 mills and one was passed in 1976 at .85. In 1976, House Bill 920 was enacted to freeze property tax revenues at the dollar amount that voters approved when the levy was originally passed. To freeze the dollar amount, the millage is rolled back so schools never collect more money than the initial dollar amount. Both levies currently have been rolled back to .45 mills to keep the dollar amount the same as it was in 1976.
“We are asking the tax payers to replace both levies to their original .85 and then combine the two. So instead of two levies at .85 each, there will be one at 1.70 mills,” said Cannon.
For more information on the Pioneer replacement levy go to www.pioneermeansjobs.com or call 419-347-7926 or go to Pioneer’s website or go to their Facebook page.
