By LANCE MIHM
lmihm@dailystandard.com
ST. MARYS — School board members allowed time to answer
questions from residents on both proposed school levies at Wednesday’s
board meeting.
Resident Bill Kellermeyer said he wanted to know how personal
incomes would or would not be affected by the proposed 1 percent
operating levy proposed on the ballot.
“There are elderly people living on fixed incomes who
think they will not pay anything on this,” Kellermeyer
said. “I have a concern with that.”
Business manager Kurt Kuffner answered Kellermeyer’s question
by reading off what incomes are taxable for the proposed levy.
Incomes taxable under the proposed levy include salaries and
wages, annuities, unemployment benefits, IRA distributions,
capital gains, self-employment income, pensions, alimony and
dividends and interest. Social Security benefits, disability
and survivor benefits, railroad retirement benefits, welfare
benefits, child support, property gifts, inheritance and workers
compensation are not open to the tax, he told Kellermeyer.
Resident Pam Hobler asked how the proposed 6.92 mill building
levy would affect taxpayers in an adverse situation, such as
a major industry like Goodyear closing down.
“Taxpayers are taking on the responsibility of paying
for the school,” superintendent Paul Blaine said.
Blaine explained the levy is the equal millage approach, which
is most common. He said that property valuation of the district
is assumed, for purposes of the levy revenue, according to past
history.
“In some cataclysmic situation, such as if Goodyear would
close down, I don’t think it would have as much of an
impact as you might think,” Blaine said. “It is
not one bond, it is a series of bonds, paid out over a maximum
term of 29 years. But the district has a rather impressive history
of increasing valuations.
Kuffner added that manufacturing jobs in the city have grown
over the last five years at a rate of 9.5 percent.
Kellermeyer also asked why no public meetings are being scheduled
to educate the public on the levy. Board member Anna Katterhenry
responded, saying a public meeting has been scheduled for Oct.
20 at the Eagles Lodge and that other meetings would be scheduled
in the future.
“We encourage anyone to contact any board member or any
members of the levy committee if they have more questions concerning
the levy,” board member Joyce Finke said.
Kuffner reported a modular classroom at Noble school has been
closed. “Apparently there was a potential problem with
some mold on a ceiling tile. It was confirmed with testing,”
he continued.
Kuffner said heavy wind and rains we had on Aug. 26 and Sept.
1 caused water to leak down into the ceiling where it rested,
causing the mold. Officials are waiting on a quote from Harris
Cleaning in Lima, to have the mold cleaned before reopening
the modular.
Blaine said the school had a very good first day of classes
throughout the district.
The first day was very much like a normal school day,”
Blaine said. “To make that happen takes a lot of work.
There are so many things to do to begin a school year. It says
a lot about the people working for the district.”
Blaine added all of the schools will fly flags at half staff
and a moment of silence will be observed at 8:46 a.m. in remembrance
of terrorist attacks Sept. 11, 2001.
In other business the board:
• Heard from assistant superintendent Todd Yohey that
class would release 90 minutes early Sept. 17 for a meeting
on curriculum mapping in accordance with new state academic
standards.
• Heard from athletic director Bruce Brown that the school
has received the Harold A. Meyer sportsmanship award. He commented
that the Western Buckeye League was the only league in the state
to have all of the schools receive the award.
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