LOVELAND, Ohio — Improving teacher salaries and maintaining academic programs are just some reasons school districts across the state are proposing tax levies for this November election. But what does that mean for taxpayers?
What You Need To Know
- Three Hamilton County school districts have tax levies on the November ballot
- Loveland City School District is proposing a 4.9 mills tax levy for operation costs
- 85% of the money would go toward funding academic programs, 10% to fund high school buses, and 5% toward adding more staff
- If passed, it will cost tax payers $14 per month per $100,000 in home value
Kate Harden has lived in Loveland for many years. All three of her children attended Loveland City Schools.
“Awesome experience at Loveland,” said Harden. “They did amazing in their academics. Ended up with scholarships in college and were also super involved in sports, show choir and all of the extracurricular activities.”
And that’s why she said she’s supporting the Loveland City Schools tax levy in November. The school district is proposing a 4.9 mills tax levy for operational costs. It has been eight years since the district has passed a levy.
“This one is super important to pass because the other ones haven’t passed and this one is an operational levy,” she said. “So it’s not building like new school buildings or anything like that. And it’s really important to support our kids and to support the staff there.”
If passed, it will cost tax payers $14 per month per $100,000 in home value. This is something Harden said is reasonable.
“I’m sitting here in a coffee shop and I paid $10 today to have a cup of coffee and a snack,” she said. “So if I can do that, I can certainly support our kids.”
Loveland City Schools Superintendent Mike Broadwater said it was important for the school district to ask for less than in the past to make sure it was affordable for taxpayers.
“We know that nobody likes paying taxes,” said Broadwater. “So we want to make sure we keep it at a modest level. We’re not looking to add anything, just to maintain what we do here at Loveland City School District.”
If the levy passes, 85% of the money would go toward funding academic programs, 10% would fund high school buses and 5% would go toward adding more staff.
“The reason you need a levy is so that you can continue with the same amount of staff, giving them an inflationary adjustment as they move through their career as well,” he said.
Loveland City Schools is one of three school districts in Hamilton County with a proposed tax levy. Cincinnati is proposing nearly $52 million for operation costs annually for 10 years and Winton Woods is asking for $3 million annually for 5 years for emergency requirements.
“We want a strong economy here in Loveland,” said Harden. “We want strong schools, we want strong properties and values and I think it’s all connected.”
