For some area school districts, asking voters for new money has been a common practice over the past couple of years.
In Mogadore, one of five Summit County schools with issues on the November ballot, asking voters to raise taxes has become a new trend.
For years, residents and the school enjoyed millions of dollars in revenue from the tangible personal property tax, which applies to property used for business.
Since 2006, the state has been phasing out local government’s ability to tap that revenue stream.
It took a few years for the impact to be felt in Mogadore, but now it is. This will be the third levy bid in three years.
“It’s hard for folks to understand that,” said Superintendent Christina Dinklocker. Before defeating a similar 5.9-mill additional levy in May, the community had not been asked for new money since 2011.
Now, the district may see itself on the ballot more often.
“For the Mogadore community, this is very different. We didn’t have levies for many years,” Dinklocker said.
Among other schools asking again for new money are Field and Cloverleaf, which each failed to garner public support in Tuesday’s special election, though Cloverleaf did pass a renewal.
Superintendent Daryl Kubilus Jr. with Cloverleaf schools said a failed levy in November would assuredly force the district to borrow more money from the state.
That decision, along with additional cuts, could be outlined in the coming months as the state asks the fiscally distressed Medina County school district to create a contingency plan to remain solvent.
Also asking for new money this fall are Field and Medina City schools, each with new leadership and, like many other schools, facing board member elections.
Two other districts, Norton in Summit County and Canton Local in Stark County, will be asking for funding for construction projects or renovation of facilities.
Norton voters will be asked to approve a $22.8 million bond issue at 3.89 mills. The measure would fund the construction of a new high school, stadium, auditorium and other improvements.
Aging buildings in Canton Local may threaten the district’s future.
“If there’s no investment in our buildings, eventually dissolving our district might be the way to go,” wrote Superintendent Kim Redmond, appealing to the community on the school’s blog. “Our enrollment is declining because families are choosing to live in other districts where the schools are safer, technology ready, and the building configurations meet the vision of today and the future.”
Canton Local’s 8-mill bond issue would raise $36 million over the next 30 years to construct a new Canton South High School and make minor renovations to the elementary and middle schools.
Pending approval from each county’s board of elections, here is a list of all school tax issues facing voters on Nov. 5 (as of Thursday, the Wayne County Board of Elections had not finalized an issues list):
Medina
Brunswick — 2-year, 4.9-mill additional levy.
Cloverleaf — 10-year, 8.3-mill additional levy.
Medina — 5-year, 5.9-mill additional levy.
Portage
Field — 3-year combined 5.5-mill additional levy.
Ravenna — 3-mill continuing additional levy.
Streetsboro — 4.56-mill bond issue and 0.5-mill permanent improvement levy.
Windham — 5-year, 3.95-mill renewal levy.
Summit
Norton — 36-year, 3.89-mill bond issue.
Tallmadge — 10-year, 7.55-mill renewal levy.
Twinsburg — 5-year, 6.9-mill renewal levy.
Manchester — 5-year, 5.99-mill additional levy.
Mogadore — 5.9-mill continuing additional levy.
Stark
Canton Local — 30-year, 8-mill construction and renovation bond issue.
Massillon — 5-year, 8.1-mill renewal levy.
Wayne
Hillsdale — 10-year, 1.25-percent income tax levy.
Northwestern — 5-year, 2.8-mill renewal levy.
Doug Livingston can be reached at 330-996-3792 or dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com.