Reposting from DDN article - Larry Budd Fri Aug 16th

SPRINGBORO — After a two-day delay, the Springboro school board voted on Thursday, July 15, to put a five- year, 6.83-mill emergency levy on November ballots.

By a 4-1 vote, the board approved putting a levy, which would raise $5.9 million a year and cost property owners $209 for every $100,000 of valuation, on the Nov. 2 ballot.

On Tuesday, the board delayed a decision on whether to ask voters for another tax levy so members could study levy options.

After reviewing options, such as an earned-income tax, the board approved the identical emergency property tax levy on Thursday that was tabled Tuesday.

“Stop the drama. Stop the in-fighting. Do what is right for this community,” Tamara Hawes, a mom with two children in the district, said before the vote.

District voters have rejected four consecutive levies for new operating money, most recently by 111 votes in May 2009.

Board Member Don Miller said the board needs to give voters a chance to approve the proposed levy, but that cuts are expected in the next five years even if it passes.

While approving the levy, Board Member Scott Anderson said he favored a larger tax, perhaps a continuing levy, to eliminate the need for future cuts to sustain the level of services.

Warren county issues up for vote on ballot this coming fall

School issues on the ballot include:

• Franklin City Schools — 4.2-mill additional bond issue.

• Kings Local Schools — A five-year, 3-mill, renewal levy.

• Lebanon City Schools — A five-year, 5.41-mill, renewal levy.

• Little Miami Local Schools — A four-year, incremental additional tax levy starting at 10.95 mills. • Mason City Schools — An incremental continuing additional tax levy that starts at 3.95 mills the first year, 5.95-mills the second year, 6.95 the third year.

• Springboro Community City Schools — A five-year, 6.83-mill additional emergency tax levy.

The cities of Carlisle and Franklin will also have tax issues on the Nov. 2 ballot.

Carlisle will have a 2-mill, continuing replacement fire levy. Franklin will ask for a 0.5-percent increase in its city income tax which is currently at 1.5 percent.

Hamilton, Washington and Wayne township have public safety tax issues on the ballot.

• Hamilton Twp. has a five-year, 1-mill additional tax for police services.

• Washington Twp. will have two fire renewal levies on the ballot. One renewal fire levy will be for 1-mill over four years. The other renewal will be for 1.06-mills over four years.

• Wayne Twp. will have a five-year, 2.45-mill replacement fire levy.