Election Day in May: 5 things to know
Communities to decide on mayors, alcohol options, income tax increase.
Today is Election Day for some cities and school districts across
the region. The ballot is dominated by school issues in dis
tricts including Northmont, Beavercreek, Xenia, Oakwood, Tipp
City, Valley View, Yellow Springs, Lebanon and Carlisle.
There are also income tax issues on the ballot in Troy, West Carrollton and Springfield.
Huber Heights voters will decide on a new mayor for the Dayton region’s fourth largest city. Voters in Troy also have two Republican primaries today for City Council seats.
Polls open today at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. If your polling place has changed, you can find out where to vote at www. MyOhioVote.com/VoterToolkit. Here’s a look at five of the key things to look for in today’s election:
1. 12 local school districts on the ballot
Large districts such as Northmont and Beavercreek are asking voters today to renew existing levies, but makethempermanent.Lebanon is asking voters to renew a 4.84-mill levy.
Xenia, Valley View, Preble Shawnee, Carlisle and the Miami Valley Career Technology Center are asking voters to OK bond issues for new buildings. The career technology center covers certain precincts in Montgomery, Miami, Darke, Preble, Warren and Greene counties. The state will pick up some of the cost if the bond issues are approved.
Valley View is looking to replace two 1920s school buildings, a 1950 elementary school and the 1968 high school.
Xenia School leaders want to build a combination middle/high school at Ohio 42 and Ledbetter Road.
Tipp City has a seven-year, 13.9-mill renewal on the ballot that makes up more than 20 percent of its general fund budget. Bethel Schools have two renewal levies before voters.
*Youcanlearnmoreabout all of the levies on the ballot in our online voters guide at vote.daytondailynews.com
2. Huber Heights to get a new mayor
Jeff Gore, Albert Griggs Jr. and David Wilson are candidates to fill the seat currently held by Mayor Tom McMasters, who is not seeking re-election.
Voters in the primary will cast ballots for one candidate, and the top two will compete head-to-head in November’s general election.
There’s also a council race on the ballot.
Nancy Byrge, Rick Stan and Chase Warden are running for an at-large council seat. Byrge is currently a councilwoman for Ward 5.
Huber Heights also has eightchangestothecitycharterontheballot.Thechanges were requested by the charter review commission.
* We asked all of the Huber Heights candidates about their top priorities if elected. You can read their answers and see their responses to other questions in our online voters guide. There you can also read the ballot language of the charter amendments.
3. West Carrollton, Springfield, Phillipsburg to decide income tax issues
West Carrollton is asking voters to make a 0.25 percent income tax approved in 2013 permanent. The city says it will use the money mostly for police and fire services, which receive about 65 percentofthosefunds,CityManager Brad Townsend said.
Springfield is asking voters for an income tax increase to fix roads and fight drug addictions. However, opponents say the tax increase would negatively impact businesses and keep people from moving to Springfield. The issue on the ballot would raise the city’s income tax from 2 to 2.4 percent for five and a half years.
The village of Phillipsburg has a 0.5% income tax on the ballot.
4. Will voters allow more alcohol options in Huber Heights?
Liquor options on the ballot rarely make news, but the one on the ballot today in Huber Heights is an exception. If voters approve the option it will allow for additional liquor licenses at The Shoppes at the Heights. Officials hope the site becomes a bustling location for restaurants, hotels and retail stores.
The district would be located north and east of the Rose Music Center at The Heights near the intersection of Ohio 201 and Interstate 70.
5. Troy voters to decide on council races, income tax
Voters in Troy are being asked to OK an added 0.25 percent income tax for 10 years to fund recreation projects. The proposed tax would raise $2.57 million a year to pay for the initial list of projects.
Troy Republicans will also hold two primaries for City Council.
Troy City Council’s 5th Ward race features incumbent Bill Twiss and challenger William Rozell. No other candidate has filed for the seat, though an independent could still seek the position before the November election. Five Republicans are seeking three at-large seats on the Troy City Council in the May 2 primary election. Two of the candidates, Robin Oda and Lynne Snee, are incumbents. Todd Severt previously served on council, William Lutz previously ran for a council ward seat and Thomas Andrew Brinkman is making a first bid for elected office in Troy.
The third current at large council member, John Terwilliger, is running for council’s 2nd Ward seat now held by fellow Republican Doug Tremblay, who is not seeking re-election. Terwilliger will face a Democratic opponent in the fall. There is no Democratic opposition for the at large race. Independent candidates have until May 1 to file to run.