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Little Miami schools asking voters to approve income tax
Comment: Will you vote for Little Miami's school income tax?
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Voters in the Little Miami school district are being asked to do what no other school district in Warren County has done — pay an income tax to fund school operations.
A proposed 1 percent earned income tax issue would help Little Miami avoid a $4 million deficit and cuts in the number of teachers, bus routes and other programs, school officials said.
Money from the proposed income tax is needed to replace funding lost due to changes to the state budget by Gov. Ted Strickland and the Ohio Legislature that reduced the amount Little Miami will receive by $6 million during the next two years. Also, Little Miami's last property tax levy for operating expenses expired at the end of 2006.
An earned income tax would allow the school district to increase its revenue every year and stay off the ballot, while an operating levy brings in the same amount every year, and would require the district to ask voters for renewals every three years, Superintendent Dan Bennett said.
More info
A forum to provide more information on the tax issue — scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at Little Miami High School — is designed specifically for senior citizens and retirees.
Other Little Miami school district residents are encouraged to attend the forum at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8 also at the high school.
Comments
By Mark
November 5, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
Both my wife and I did NOT vote for this tax. Not because we would currently pay more under this tax, because we are looking to buy property that will end up making us pay more under a property tax. The reason, then? Because it takes control of the money, only one of two control points for citizens (the other being board elections) out of our hands. It effectively gives them a huge purse of money and says “do what you want with it.” No accountability = No vote from me.
By Mike C.
October 14, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
We will definitely NOT be supporting this new tax. We supported the last tax levy to build new schools, but this is too much. I’m tired of the state continuing to shirk its responsibility to fund education like it’s supposed to. I’m also disgusted by the way the board is pandering to seniors to get their support through the earned income tax, knowing that they were the ones who repeatedly torpedoed their efforts to pass the last levy. If this passes, I can kiss what’s left of my raise goodbye.
By Mike C.
October 14, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
We will definitely NOT be supporting this new tax. We supported the last tax levy to build new schools, but this is too much. I’m tired of the state continuing to shirk its responsibility to fund education like it’s supposed to. I’m also disgusted by the way the board is pandering to seniors to get their support through the earned income tax, knowing that they were the ones who repeatedly torpedoed their efforts to pass the last levy. If this passes, I can kiss what’s left of my raise goodbye.
By tc
October 2, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
I will vote for it. State funding cuts are not the fault of the school district. A lot of good things are going on at Little Miami and they need our support.
By Jay
October 2, 2008 8:01 AM | Link to this
Definitely NOT!! The school is wastefully spending. The school paid for the turnabout on Morrow-Cozaddale Rd. What a waste of money. It would’ve been much cheaper, easier and just as effective to put in a 3-way stop. What are they thinking???