The Trimble Local School District plans to put a levy on the ballot for the first time in nearly 50 years amidst a fiscal emergency
By: Ty Carpenter
Posted on:
GLOUSTER, Ohio (WOUB) – The Trimble Local School District plans to put a levy on the ballot for the first time in nearly 50 years to address its fiscal crisis.
The board voted unanimously on Monday to move forward with a levy on the November ballot. The levy would be a 1% earned income tax over five years, funding the district about $665,000 annually.
Some members of the public were hesitant over passing a levy. Trust issues lingered as community members sought answers about how the district ended up in a financial mess.
“Somebody had to have known we didn’t have the money. Somebody up here knew it,” said one audience member. “Now they’re asking us to pay for somebody’s mistake? That’s going to be very hard in an area like this. We are not a very rich school district.”
Bob Hancock, the operations coordinator with North Coast Shared Services, was filling in as treasurer for the meeting. He sympathized with the audience’s want for accountability before clarifying the role of the state commission overseeing the district’s efforts to address a projected $11 million deficit over the coming years.
“The commission is not going to focus on what happened,” said Hancock. “It’s what is, and how do we get out of it.”
“Now I don’t have any kids that go to school here …. I don’t think an income tax that would affect our retired is fair. Because I don’t want someone retired to choose between medicine or an income tax for the school,” said another audience member. “But if they need me to pay for the school, I would pay all of my income for the school.”
Interim Superintendent Lindy Douglas referred to the levy as the “happy medium.” As some audience members remained doubtful, fear of the school closing without additional funding seemed to grow.
“So what happens if you close the doors?” Hancock asked. “Whatever district you’re split off to, whatever their taxes are, you’re going to pay anyways. Now what if you’re going to Athens? … It’s much higher.”
This argument seemed persuasive for some in the audience.
“Are you saying if we don’t have a levy passed, we’re done?” one audience member asked. “And regardless, we’ll be paying an income tax for another district? … We have to do something here.”
“I’ll do whatever I need to save this district,” said another audience member. “I don’t want to see it closed.”
The board will meet again July 24 at 3 p.m. to finalize and proceed with the levy.