Edgerton schools to seek 1% income tax boost

1/26/2006

EDGERTON, Ohio - Edgerton Local School District is making plans to put a 1 percent, five-year income tax on the May 2 ballot that, if approved by voters, would take its total local school income tax rate to 2 percent, making it one of the highest in Ohio.

The school district has had a continuous 1 percent income tax on the books since 1992.

If voters agree to the new tax, Edgerton's income tax rate would increase to 2 percent at the beginning of 2007, providing an extra $625,000 a year for the district in southwestern Williams County, district treasurer Margie Rinkel estimated.

The Ohio Department of Taxation lists only one school district - Danville Local in north central Ohio's Knox County - with a 2 percent income tax rate now.

Eight Ohio school districts have a 1.75 percent rate, including Patrick Henry Local in Henry County, Cory-Rawson in Hancock County, and Hardin Northern Local in Hardin County.

The Edgerton board voted unanimously on Tuesday to ask the Ohio Department of Taxation to certify figures for its request. The board is to meet Feb. 8 to consider filing the request with the county board of elections.

On Tuesday, the board also spent about four hours behind closed doors discussing possible personnel cuts.

It is expected to consider some of those cuts at its Feb. 20 meeting.