Edgerton schools put 1 percent tax on ballot in May

2/9/2006

EDGERTON, Ohio - The Edgerton Local Board of Education voted unanimously yesterday to put on the May 2 ballot a 1 percent, five-year income tax 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 has 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 is expected to follow the income tax request with a round of personnel cuts this month. Those proposed cuts, which the board discussed behind closed doors for about four hours late last month, are to be discussed again at its Feb. 20 meeting. But the board is not expected to vote on the cuts until a later meeting, probably a special meeting to be called this month.

"The cuts are so deep for this small district that the board just wants to make ... sure they are making the right decisions," said Charles Koch, interim superintendent.