Latest news with #StarkLibrary
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
State proposal to make it harder to pass property tax levies worries Stark County leaders
Stark County leaders say a state proposal to make it more difficult to pass local property tax levies could hurt essential services. The legislation by Reps. David Thomas, R-Jefferson, and Angie King, R-Celina, would raise the threshold for passing levies for schools, libraries, parks and other services to 60% rather than a simple majority. Some lawmakers say it would ensure levies have the full support of the community at a time when many homeowners are being hit with big property tax increases. The Canton Repository examined election results from November 2022 through May 2025 in Stark County. The newspaper found there were a total of 117 tax issues on the ballot, with 93 of those passing with a simple majority. But 35 of the 93 issues would have failed if a 60% majority were required. When the Stark Library levy passed in 2019, it was approved with just over 51% approval. "If that provision had been effect in 2019 when we were on the ballot, it would not have passed," said Mary Ellen Icaza, Stark Library CEO and executive director. "We would not be able to provide the services that we are now providing to our community, and there would be significant, significant impacts." The eight-year levy is still active and represents 58% of the library system's funding. Icaza said property tax levies are the most lucrative way for the library system to raise funds. "The proposal, as it stands with the 60% required passage, I think it undermines the principle of majority rule in Ohio," she said. "It certainly would make it more difficult to pass any library levies." The Perry Township Fire Department passed a 4.9-mill replacement levy in November. According to official election results, the levy had 50.15% approval and passed by just 43 votes. Perry Township Fire Chief Larry Sedlock said the department relies on the property tax levy for the vast majority of operations. "We are a township; we rely heavily on property taxes," he said. While the idea of granting property tax relief sounds appealing, Sedlock said he does not see how the department could operate without those funds. "The money has got to come from someplace," he said. "I'm sure property owners such as myself would enjoy that relief, but I'm just not sure how they're going to go about it." Kevin Tobin, retiring superintendent of Lake Local Schools, said the proposal to raise the threshold is the latest in a series of attacks on public education in Ohio. "The simple majority rules today, and I don't understand why they want to go away from that," he said. "We're already under siege. It's just another weaponization against public education." 'Roller coaster': Stark County school districts facing uncertainty about state funding Public schools are dependent on property tax revenue. Tobin said it's put the burden on homeowners. "It is disheartening to know that we continue to just strap the backs of our property owners," he said. "The funding model is broken." But right now, there aren't any sufficient alternatives to levies, Tobin said. "Every district's got booster clubs, every district has academic boosters, every district is trying to raise money," he said. "Everybody's looking for alternative revenue streams to enhance our student experiences, because our income that we're getting from the state is not enough to do the things we do." Lake Local Schools passed a five-year, 9.5-mill levy in March 2024 after two previous attempts failed. It had 54% approval. "It took us three times to pass a levy that literally does not generate enough funds to do all that we would like to do for our children," Tobin said, "and that's frustrating." Tobin has been through the difficult process of constantly asking voters for new levies. Increasing the threshold would just make it harder, he said. "It is very difficult to go through a levy cycle and keep everybody positive and moving in the right direction," he said. "It is one of the more difficult things that you are asked to do as an educational leader." In the most recent election on May 6, all of the tax issues that were approved in Stark County passed with over 60% of the vote. The tax issues included a countywide replacement levy for Stark County Children Services, which passed with 62% approval and a Louisville Library District renewal levy, which passed with just over 60% of the vote. That was not the case for the Nov. 5 general election. There was a mixed bag of outcomes for tax issues in that election. Ten issues passed with under 60% approval, including a Lawrence Township police levy, which passed with over 56% approval, and the Perry Township fire levy. Here's how many issues would've been impacted from the last three years if the threshold to pass was 60%: May 2025 election: Two issues that were approved would have failed. November 2024: Ten approved issues wouldn't have passed. March 2024: Four approved issues wouldn't have passed. November 2023: Twelve approved issues wouldn't have passed. May 2023: Four approved issues wouldn't have passed. November 2022: Three approved issues wouldn't have passed. Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@ Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark leaders weigh in on proposed property tax levy changes
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'We rely on that.' Stark libraries worried about potential cut in state revenue
An Ohio House draft of the two-year state budget eliminates the Public Library Fund, a move that would cut millions in funding for Ohio libraries. Leaders of Stark County library systems said potential cuts could greatly impact services. "We rely on that," said Mary Ellen Icaza, executive director and CEO of Stark Library, which has 10 locations across the county. The Public Library Fund covers about 37% to 38% of Stark Library's operating budget. "Our operating budget is how we keep our locations going and how we are able to provide our collections, resources and services," she said. The fund covers roughly 66% of Louisville Public Library's operating budget, Director Brock Hutchison said. He said if the House budget passes, changes would need to be made. "It's hard for me to say exactly what would happen," Hutchison said. "We'd be looking at some kind of cut." Library cuts? Funding for Ohio libraries at risk of being slashed. Stark libraries need support | Opinion Under the current system, the Public Library Fund gets 1.7% of the revenue from the state's General Revenue Fund, which mostly comes from sales and income taxes. That money is then divided among Ohio's 88 counties using a formula. Under Gov. Mike DeWine's proposed state budget, the Public Library Fund's distribution would've been increased to 1.75% of the General Revenue Fund, but the House plan reverses course. The House proposal would change library funding to a line-item on the state budget. By dollar amount, it would cut funding from an estimated $530 million in 2025 to $485 million in 2026, according to reporting by the Columbus Dispatch. A House GOP spokeswoman told the Dispatch that the $530 million funding figure for the current year is an estimate that has yet to be finalized. Compared to DeWine's proposal, the House proposal gives Ohio libraries $100 million less in the next two years. The GOP-controlled House is scheduled to vote on the budget Wednesday. According to the Ohio Department of Taxation, Stark County received an estimated $15.7 million last year from the Public Library Fund, and is expected to receive about $16.4 million this year. Icaza said the move to eliminate the Public Library Fund was "fairly shocking" and has caused concern for local libraries across the state. "We're keeping a close eye on everything," she said. "It's very important that we're here for our community and can provide the services the community needs." Hutchison said his main concern is that cuts to state funding could impact how Ohio libraries work together to provide resources. "Ohio always has some of the top libraries, if not the top libraries, in the country by usage and what we're able to offer," he said. "There's so many resource sharing opportunities. If you come into the Louisville Public Library, you can borrow from over 100 libraries across the state, and we'll have those items for you in a day of two." The state funding makes it possible, Hutchison said. "We're all funded together, and we're able to collaborate," he said. "It's been a legacy for Ohio's public libraries. Without state funding, or without us being part of the General Revenue Fund, I don't know how that continues." Louisville Public Library has a 1-mill renewal levy on the May 6 ballot. The uncertainty of state funding makes passing it all the more important, Hutchison said. "It's a third of our budget, about $360,000 a year that we can count on over the next five years," he said. "It's critical. It's more critical now than ever." The renewal levy is not a tax increase. Louisville just opened its new library. Hutchison said they will be careful with spending amid the uncertainty. "Anyone in the public sector always pays attention to tax cuts and bills and budgets in the federal, state and local government," he said. "We live within our means." Libraries across Stark County have asked their residents to pay attention to the state budget. Icaza said they are working to try to change the budget and reinstate the Public Library Fund in the final version. "This is very early in the budget process," she said. "We are trying very hard to mobilize and, you know, stand together as the Ohio public library community." Stark Library has been doing a campaign asking residents to call their state representatives and tell them to support the Public Library Fund. So far, she's been impressed with the response from the community. "I am very gratified by the support that the community has shown us," Icaza said. Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@ Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County libraries respond to potential cuts to state funds
