Additional 4.99-mill levy up for voters to decide

“We recognize the burden. Our tax increase is only what we have to recover (from losses caused by TPP reduction).”

— Steve Thompson, W-E superintendent

The Willoughby-Eastlake School District is seeking approval of a 4.99-mill additional, continuous tax levy in the Aug. 6 special election.

The levy would replace a loss of funds caused by the state of Ohio’s reduction in Tangible Personal Property Tax.

In addition, the district stated, it is returning to the ballot to combat general inflation.

After the TPP is completely phased out, the district stated that changes in state disbursement will result in a loss of more than $8.2 million per year.

Passage of the tax levy would raise around $8.3 million as a replacement for the loss.

The cost to voters would be $174.65 per $100,000 of property value, according to the Lake County Auditor’s Office.

The tax is generated based on market value, which is recorded by the county auditor’s office.

“We recognize the burden,” said Superintendent Steve Thompson during a recent meeting. “Our tax increase is only what we have to recover (from losses caused by TPP reduction).”

The last time the district asked voters for new money for operating expenses was in 2012.

A bond issue, which cannot be used for operating expenses, was passed in 2015 for the construction of three new school buildings.

Willoughby-Eastlake has stated that the district has seen increases in expenses, including safety, technology, staff salaries and healthcare, fuel, window and door repairs, special education costs and utilities.

“We just can’t operate at the same level in perpetuity,” Thompson said. “People want pay raises, inflation, fuel, electricity, repairs of buildings.”

Early voting for the Aug.6 election began in July. Inperson early voting will continue until Aug. 5.

In-person early voting takes places at the Lake County Board of Elections, which is located in the Lake County Administration Building, 105 Main St. in Painesville.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Aug. 2; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 3; 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 4; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 5.

The usual polling locations will be open in the district from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 6.

There are 44,917 eligible voters within the school district ahead of the August election.