Several public bodies in Licking County have filed issues, including some involving tax renewals, that they want voters to decide during the November election.
Some of the issues are more routine liquor options in Johnstown, Newark and Etna Township, where businesses seek the ability to sell wine and mixed beverages on Sundays. Others include charter amendments from Heath and Pataskala.
Southwest Licking Local School District is proposing a 2.87 mill – costing $100.45 per $100,000 assessed valuation of a property – 35-year bond issue to build facilities and repair others. The district has proposed the issue in different forms at least a few times, but voters have rejected it.
The district is also proposing replacing its 0.75% school district income tax with a 2% tax on earned income from people living in the district.
The list is not final, as taxing authorities have until an Aug. 5 deadline to file issues for the November ballot. They must pass resolutions or ordinances containing an issue to get it on the ballot. The Licking County Board of Elections must also certify the issues at its Aug. 17 regular meeting.
Issues filed so far include:
– Southwest Licking Local School District: Replace an existing 0.75% income tax with a 2% tax on earned income for people living in the school district. It also proposes a 35-year, 2.87 mill bond issue to help support construction of facilities while renovating and repairing others.
– Licking Park District: A renewal of a .375 mill property tax ($13 per $100,000 of assessed property value) for five years to support the district’s parks, trails and other activities.
– Bowling Green Township: A renewal of a 1 mill ($35 per $100,000 of assessed property value) property tax for five years to support fire protection and emergency medical services.
– Mary Ann Township: A renewal of a 1.5 mill ($52.50 per $100,000 of assessed property value) property tax for five years to support fire protection and emergency medical services.
– Pataskala Public Library: A renewal of a 1 mill ($35 per $100,000 of assessed property value) property tax for five years to support its expenses.
– Heath: A charter amendment that removes provisions for emergency resolutions and allows resolutions to take effect immediately, unless it specifies taking effect at a later time.
– Pataskala: Charter amendments that amend Section 3.07, detailing salaries of public officials; amend Section 7.07, involving the park and recreation board; amend several other sections involving city officials and departments.
Other election items of note
At a July 13 meeting, Licking County Board of Elections Director Tess Wigginton said staff have undergone cross training in recent weeks, largely to ensure that they are able to handle different roles and tasks if needed. Staff will continue the training in the coming weeks before the Novelmber election.
“It behooves us to make sure everybody is trained to do [different roles],” board member Kaye Hartman said during the meeting. “We’re very lucky with the staff we have that we have now that they all really do work well together and jump in and help each other. At this moment, I don’t think it’s an issue, but we don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.”
The board also expects to receive a grant – at least totaling $1,000 – from the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office so that it can train more precinct election officials than it’s required to.
Wigginton also reported that the accuracy rate for its audit of May primary election results was 100%. The board conducted the audit after certifying the results.
Advocate reporter Josué Perez can be reached at jhperez@newarkadvocate.com.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: What’s on the November ballot? Licking County voters may see tax issues
Reporting by Josué Perez, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
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By Josué Perez, Newark Advocate | USA TODAY Network
