Hudson voters to decide on school district tax levy in November
For the first time in 12 years, Hudson City Schools is asking voters for new operating funds.
During its regular meeting Monday night, the Hudson City Schools Board of Education approved a resolution to put an additional 5.5-mill tax levy in excess of the current 10-mill limitation before voters in November. If approved, collections will begin in January.
“The reason we’re doing this levy is we want to maintain high academic standards,” said Steve DiMauro, the school board president. “We want to provide our students the programming that affords them the opportunity to become their best self, whether it’s in the classroom, out on the athletic field, or whatever it might be.”
According to the Summit County Fiscal Office, the levy — if approved — will cost owners of a $100,000 property an additional $193 in property taxes annually.
The money generated by the levy would be used for operating expenses such as staff salaries, supplies, and transportation, among other things. By law, funds generated by bond issues cannot be used on operating expenses, nor can capitol improvement funds.
At the June 26 board meeting, Phillip Butto, the district treasurer and chief financial officer, said the levy is needed because the most recent fiveyear forecast indicates that district operating expenditures are exceeding district revenue for the second year in a row.
“This is due to two primary factors,” he said. “First, revenue growth is very limited because, according to Ohio law, property values are not allowed to grow with inflation. Second, district operating expenditures will continue to experience inflationary growth despite those legal restrictions on revenue growth.”
Butto said passage of the levy will help the district remain financially stable without unduly burdening Hudson residents.
“We decided to recommend a November 2023 election because it will produce an immediate reduction in deficit spending with collections to begin in Jan. 2024,” said Butto. “But more importantly, a November levy will most likely ultimately result in (collecting) lower property taxes from homeowners from the new levy. This is because the November levy will rely on current property values. Property values are predicted to increase next year.”