School, town, library issues fill Tuesday ballots

10/26/2010

Several school districts, municipalities, and libraries have levies on Tuesday's ballot.

Both Oregon City Schools and Woodmore Local School District, for example, again are trying to pass emergency levies. Rossford Village Exempted Schools is asking voters to approve a bond levy to begin building all new schools.

And both Harris-Elmore Public Library and Wood County District Public Library want to get taxpayer money to help cover expenses.

In Oregon, the school district's 5.9-mill, five-year emergency levy would generate nearly $3.4 million annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 house about $182 a year. Woodmore's 2.99-mill, five-year emergency levy would generate about $450,000 a year and cost the owner of a $100,000 house $91 a year.

Rossford has a 5.99-mill bond issue on the ballot that would raise $50 million over 37 years and cost the owner of a $100,000 house about $183 a year. Money would be used to build middle and high schools, the proposed first phase in replacing the district's schools.

Harris-Elmore Public Library is seeking a 1.1-mill, five-year levy that would cost the owner of a $100,000 house in Harris, Allen, and Clay townships about $35 a year. Wood County District Public Library, which includes residents of Northwood and Lake school districts, is asking voters to approve a 0.8-mill, five-year levy that would cost the owner of a $100,000 house about $24.50 a year.

Among other issues, Northwood has a proposal on Tuesday's ballot to raise the city's payroll tax by 0.25 percentage point, to 1.75 percent. The proposal would generate an additional $500,000 annually.

In Lake Township, both the school district and township have issues on the ballot.

Lake Township Road District is seeking a levy replacement for road improvements and maintenance and additional tax dollars, which together will raise nearly $355,000 a year. The replacement 1-mill, five-year levy will cost owners of a $100,000 house $30.63 a year, up from the current $14.01 a year, and the additional 1-mill continuing levy also will cost $30.63 a year for the owners of a $100,000 house.

Lake Local School District, meanwhile, wants to renew a 1.4-mill levy for general permanent improvements for a continuing period plus a 6.63-mill replacement for current expenses for a continuing period. Neither will raise taxes, noted Jim Witt, superintendent.

Other ballot issues include:

•In Jerusalem Township, a 5-mill, five-year replacement of a tax for the fire department. The levy would raise taxes for the owner of a $100,000 house about $61 a year.

•In Oregon, precinct 14, whether B.J.'s Steakhouse, 506 South Lallendorf Road, should be able to sell wine, mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor from 11 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.

•In Luckey, renewal of a 1.9-mill, five-year levy for current operating expenses.

•In Millbury, renewal of a 1-mill, five-year levy for current operating expenses.

•In Perrysburg Township, renewal of 3-mill, five-year levy for police protection.

•In Genoa Area Local School District, renewal of a 3.9-mill, five-year levy for current operating expenses.

•In Elmore, renewal of a 3-mill, three-year levy for maintenance and repair of streets and alleys.

•In Harris Township, Ottawa County, renewal of a 0.7-mill, five-year levy for maintaining and operating cemeteries.