Richland County Children Services formally launched its campaign for a 1-mill, 10-year property tax replacement today with a noon Monday at the Gazebo in Mansfield’s Central Park.
The Mansfield Senior High School Marching Band performed at the event, entertaining the crowd present. The agency distributed free popcorn and juice to those in attendance.
Richland County Children Services Board President Bob Konstam and agency Executive Director Patty Harrelson spoke during the event, along with honorary levy co-chair Doug Castle, a retired long-time educator and administrator for Mansfield City Schools. The campaign’s other levy co-chair, WMFD news anchor Brigitte Coles, could not attend the rally.
The levy on the ballot will replace a property tax issue first approved by local voters in 1984 and then renewed in 1994 and 2004. Replacing it will bring the issue up to current property values and will generate about $1.9 million annually. It also allows the agency to leverage federal dollars that, when combined with the local money, is worth about 25 percent of the agency’s overall operating budget.
The replacement levy will cost the owner of a $100,000 home less than 10 cents per day. Combined with the agency’s other 1-mill levy, approved in 1999 and renewed in 2009, the local tax burden will be just $5 per month or $60 per year on that same landowner.
