The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Communities to consider renewal levies
Geauga County’s 66,725 registered voters have the power to decide when they go to the polls on Nov. 6.
The 66,725 registered voters in Geauga County will have to decide whether or not to pass the 0.2-mill renewal levy for the county Health District when they go to the polls on Nov. 6 for the General Election.
The five-year levy which has been in place for 20 years generates $600,00 annually for the Health District, which provides services for approximately 94,000 residents in the county.
“Even though costs have increased and mandates from the state have increased, the health district is finding ways to do more with less,” said David Gragg, president of the county Health Board, in a letter to the editor published in the Oct. 20 edition of the News-Herald. “The Health Department has recently hired a new health commissioner and director of nursing and is positioning itself for a very successful future in health services in Geauga County.”
Since it is a renewal levy, there will be no tax increase if it passes. Residents would continue to pay $5.95 a year per every $100,000 of property valuation. The annual yield from from the renewal would be $620,237.
The levy would take effect in tax year 2019 and with the collection starting in 2020.
Renewal levies can be voted on in the November General Election up to one year early, but they will not overlap with an existing levy.
Renewal levies do not increase the amount of tax currently being paid.
East Geauga Fire District is the only special district with a renewal issue on the ballot.
There are 3,464 registered voters in the district who can decide whether to pass a 2.8-mill, fiveyear levy. If approved, residents would continue to pay $94.83 a year per every $100,000 of property valuation.
The levy would yield $455,872 beginning in 2020.
Townships that have renewal levies on the ballot include: Auburn, Bainbridge, Chester, Montville, Munson, Newbury, Parkman and Russell.
Auburn Township is asking its 5,228 voters to renew a 2.0-mill, fiveyear road improvement levy. It would continue to cost residents $67.84 per $100,000 property valuation and have an annual yield of $521,666 beginning in 2020.
Bainbridge Township is asking its 9,629 voters to renew a 1.0-mill, five-year road improvement levy. Residents would continue to pay $27.08 per year for every $100,000 of property valuation. Collection would begin in 2020 and yield $507,661 annually.
The 7,697 voters in Chester Township will have three renewals to decide on.
The police and EMS 1.77mill levy is a renewal with term changed. The township is seeking to change the levy from a five-year duration to a continuing one. Residents would see no increase and continue to pay 36.54 yearly per $100,000 property valuation. The annual yield beginning in 2020 would be $447,294.
The township also is asking voters to decide on a 1.8-mill fire and EMS five-year renewal levy. Residents would continue to pay $40.87 per $100,000 property valuation for an annual yield of $494,261.
Also being voted on with a term change from five years to continuing is the 1.0-mill road improvement levy. This would yield $345,741 with residents continuing to pay $28.96 annually per $100,000 property valuation beginning in 2020.
There are 1,433 voters in Montville Township who are eligible to decide on the 1-mill, renewal road improvement levy. The five-year levy would continue to cost residents $30.63 per $100,000 property valuation beginning in 2020. Annual yield is $52,482.
Munson Township is asking its 5,184 registered voters to decide on two renewal levies.
The 0.65-mill, five-year Fire and EMS levy would yield $102,619. Residents would continue to pay $12.38 per $100,000 of property valuation.
Voters are also being asked to decide on the 2.0-mill, five-year road improvement levy. This would continue to cost $38.09 per $100,000 of property valuation with an annual yield of $315,750.
There 4,138 registered voters in Newbury Township who can decide on the the 2.0-mill, five-year road improvement renewal levy. It would have an annual yield of $347,212 and would continue to cost taxpayers $59.86 annually per $100,000 property valuation.
The 1,838 registered voters in Parkman Township are being asked to vote on two renewal levies.
Voters will decide whether to renew and convert the 1.0-mill fire and EMS levy from five-year renewal into a continuing one. The cost to the tax payers would remain at $34.54 and continue to produce an annual yield of $70,956.
Parkman voters are also being asked to vote on the 0.9-mill five-year road improvement levy. This would continue to cost $10.68 and and produce an annual yield of $27,357 beginning in 2020.
Russell Township is asking its 4,490 voters to convert the 2.75-mill road improvement renewal levy into a continuous levy. Property owners would continue to pay $82.32 per $100,000 property valuation, producing an annual yield of $714,886.
The City of Chardon is the only city in the county with a renewal issue on the ballot.
Chardon is asking its 3,819 registered voters to decide on the five-mill, three-year fire and EMS renewal levy. The cost to the taxpayer would remain at $142.20 annually per $100,00 of property valuation. It would yield $755,467 annually.
As for Geauga County villages, Burton is asking its 958 registered voters to decide on the 4.75-mill, four-year, fire and EMS renewal levy. The levy would continue to cost residents $119,56 annually per $100,000 of property valuation and yield $116,197.
Also, South Russell is asking its 3,185 voters to decide on the 2.0-mill, fiveyear police levy. The levy would continue to cost taxpayers $23.74 per $100,000 of property value and yield $134,127 annually.