METAMORA, Ohio -- The Evergreen Local Board of Education voted last week to place a 0.5 percent income tax on the district's March 6 ballot following the Nov. 8 failure of a tax half that size.
Voters in the school district, which is partly in northwest Lucas County and mostly in northeast Fulton County, rejected a 0.25 percent income tax by 1,620 to 1,293 last month.
On Dec. 5, the school board directed Superintendent Jim Wyse to develop a list of potential cuts for discussion Jan. 9. But the board also accepted the staff recommendation to place a five-year, 0.5 percent income tax request on the primary ballot.
"The defeat of the 0.25 percent income tax issue in November puts the district a whole year behind in receiving any new revenue, which increases the deficit the district faces," Mr. Wyse said. "Had the levy in November been successful, Evergreen would have begun receiving new revenue in April, 2012, however, if this new levy is successful in March, we will not receive any new revenue until April, 2013."
If approved, the 0.5 percent income tax would raise an estimated $833,739 annually for its duration. Revenue would be used for general purposes, including teacher salaries, fuel costs, utilities, and books and classroom supplies, Mr. Wyse said.
He said he does not expect action on spending cuts Jan. 9, but rather at a likely special meeting later that month or in early February. The board could adopt a two-tiered plan, he said, with one level of cuts to be imposed regardless of the March 6 tax vote and the other depending on the vote's outcome.