Hopewell explains tax decision

BASCOM—The Hopewell-Loudon Board of Education recently passed a resolution authorizing an unvoted permanent improvement levy during their regular meeting on Sept. 13. So, what does it mean to pass an unvoted levy? The Board of Education hosted a public hearing before the regularly scheduled monthly meeting to inform and discuss the resolution to move inside millage to a Permanent Improvement fund. "The State of Ohio issues taxes collected in the form of mills to each county, and the county then distributes these 'unvoted' or 'inside' mills to its public entities," said Hopewell-Loudon's Treasurer, Anne Spence. "They are called 'unvoted' and/or 'inside' mills because residents do not vote on how they are distributed. Hopewell-Loudon receives 4.60 mills from the county and all of this revenue currently goes into our General Operating fund." There are only two ways for a school district to obtain permanent improvement funds - either by transferring existing revenue or by requesting new monies through a PI Levy. "The local community has invested many resources into Hopewell-Loudon Schools' facilities and we want to make sure we maintain that investment," Spence said, noting that Hopewell-Loudon School's Board of Education and administration felt that using existing revenue by transferring 1.28 mills of the 4.60 'unvoted' mills into a Permanent Improvement fund would allow for the district to have a consistent revenue stream for permanent improvements, instead of asking taxpayers for additional funds. Permanent Improvements include maintaining current facilities, structural and mechanical operations, general maintenance and repairs, grounds upkeep, new construction and other needs for the future. The 1.28 mills are equivalent to approximately $135,000 annually which will provide for a sustainable PI fund moving forward. "Although the district notified the media and community of the intent to formally move the inside mills, the district did not specifically inform the county auditor's office in the process," said Spence. "Therefore, the district will now take the necessary and proper steps in notifying the county auditor's office of its intent to move the inside millage and proceed with the resolution at the next board meeting." The next regular meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11, in the school's auditeria located at 181 N. County Road 7.