May primary to include B.G. cell-phone issue

2/20/2009

Three Lucas County school districts will have levy requests on the May 5 special election ballot, and in Bowling Green voters will decide whether to permit cell phone use while driving, following yesterday's filing deadline.

The Maumee Board of Education has approved a new 3.9-mill operating levy that would raise $1.9 million a year.

The levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $119.40 per year in additional tax, while a senior citizen with a homestead exemption would pay $89.52.

Maumee Superintendent Greg Smith said the levy would get the school district through the next two school years, even though $500,000 will have to be cut from the budget.

"The board did a lot of talking over the last couple of months, met with several groups, business leaders, parent groups, just to listen to what the community was saying," Mr. Smith said.

In November, Maumee voters rejected a 5.9-mill request that would have generated $2.9 million a year.

Also in Lucas County:

•The Otsego Board of Education, overlapping from Wood County, is seeking a 5-mill emergency levy. The 5-year levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 house about $150 more in property taxes a year.

•The Springfield Board of Education seeks the renewal of a five-year, 1.35-mill permanent improvement levy to generate about $1,058,000 a year and cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $38 annually.

Other May 5 ballot issues in the region include:

•Bowling Green - Prohibiting motorists from talking on cell phones while they drive. The ban would exempt the use of hands-free phones, by police and fire officials, and in emergencies.

Violations would be punishable by a fine up to $150.

•Napoleon city - 1.3 percent income tax for operations, property acquisition, capital improvement, and economic development.

•Rossford city - additional 0.5 mills for five years for fire equipment and buildings.

•Eastwood - additional 3.2 mills for 28-year bond issue for constructing school facilities, and additional 0.75 mills for permanent improvements.

•North Baltimore - additional 7.57 mills for 28-year bond issue for buildings, and 0.25 percent income tax for 25 years for permanent improvements.

•Bowling Green school district - replace 0.5 percent income tax with 1 percent income tax for five years for operations.

•Northwood school district - additional 1.75 mills for permanent improvements.

•Pike-Delta-York school district - 0.75-percent income tax for five years for current expenses.

- Tom Troy