A substitute operating levy for Edgewood City Schools will be on the April 28, 2020 ballot. This will appear as Issue 5 on the ballot. This levy is a continuation of the expiring 2015 levy and would mean no new taxes for district residents. To assist you in making your decision, here is a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the levy. Click here for a printable version of the following FAQs.
FAQs
Q: What is a substitute levy?
A: A substitute levy is a type of ballot issue that can replace an existing emergency levy, or a current substitute levy. It can be for 5 years, 10 years or continuous. Issue 5 is for 5 years.
Q: What does a substitute levy provide?
A: A substitute levy allows a district to collect additional property tax revenue from any new construction that occurs inside the district boundaries during each tax year.
Q: Why does Edgewood need this levy?
A: The current levy is expiring at the end of 2020, and the amount collected from this levy is $2.7 million dollars. This represents 7.2% of the district’s operating budget and is crucial to our day-to-day operations. As our enrollment continues to grow, so do our expenses. State funding is projected to be flat, so the levy is critical for providing our students with the education and support services they need.
Q: How much would a property owner pay if the levy passes?
A: Approximately $14.37 per month ($172.42 annually) is the amount a property owner would pay, per $100,000 property value (this amount assumes the homeowner is receiving the 12.5% homestead reduction).
Q: Will property owners lose the 12.5% homestead reduction they currently receive?
A: No, if the substitute levy is approved by voters, qualifying property owners will not lose the 12.5% in homestead tax reduction they currently receive. This amount includes the rollback and homestead credits they currently receive as a homeowner.
Q: What is the millage amount for the substitute levy?
A: The millage for the upcoming levy is 5.63. The amount of the millage has reduced since the original emergency levy was approved in 2005. At that time, the millage was 6.90. When the substitute levy passed in 2010, it was at 6.16 and has been decreasing each year.
Q: What happens if the levy passes?
Maintain current class sizes
Maintain current staffing levels
Offer the courses our students desire and keep Advance Placement (AP) and College Credit Plus (CCP) course choices
Retain extracurricular activities with little to no participation fees
Continue to provide transportation to all current routes
Maintain our day-to-day operations
Q: What happens if the levy fails? Possible reductions include:
Reduce student support services in all schools
Reduce class choices and course offerings
Restructure extracurriculars and require pay-to-participate fees for all activities
Significant staff reductions
Increase class sizes in grades K-5 and class loads in grades 6-12
Reduce transportation causing longer bus rides and fewer stops for students K-8, eliminate transportation for students in 9-12 grades
Q: There are several new housing developments underway or planned to be built in the near future in the Edgewood district. Don’t school districts get more tax money with every new house that is built?
A: Yes, with a substitute levy, more houses mean more property tax revenues to the district.
Q: April 28 is a primary election and I have not declared a party. Can I still vote?
A: You do not have to declare a party to vote in a primary election. Any registered voter may request an “issues only” ballot at his or her polling location.
Voting By Mail Information & Important Dates
Due to the Stay At Home order issued by Dr. Amy Acton, in response to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Mike DeWine signed legislation on March 27, to allow votes to be submitted by mail (e.g. absentee ballot) for the Ohio Primary election. The election has been extended to Tuesday, April 28. Voting will only take place through the absentee ballot process. There will not be any in-person or early voting for the Ohio Primary election on Tuesday, April 28.
To obtain an absentee ballot, you will need to complete an application (either online or by phone) to request a ballot by mail. Voters who already voted do not need to request a new ballot. Ballots already received by mail or in-person will be included for this election. Follow these steps to request a ballot-by-mail:
For Butler County residents:
To request a ballot, you must first complete an application. You can either:
Download an application no later than April 22 by clicking here, OR
Call 513-887-3700 to have an application mailed to you. Calls should be made no later than Wednesday, April 15.
The Butler County Board of Elections hours are: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday.
Complete the application and mail it in. It is advised to mail it in no later than Wednesday, April 22. Applications must be received by the Butler County Board of Elections no later than Noon on Saturday, April 25. Mail your application to:
Butler County Board of Elections
1802 Princeton Rd. Ste. 600
Hamilton, Ohio 45011
Once you receive your ballot in the mail, follow the instructions included with your ballot.
Use the provided return envelope to send your ballot back to the Board of Elections.
Your ballot must be postmarked by Monday, April 27 or you can drop it in the dropbox in front of the Butler County Board of Elections by 7:30 pm on Tuesday, April 28.
Visit the Butler County Board of Elections website for more information.
For Preble County residents:
To request a ballot, you must first complete an application. You can either:
Download an application no later than April 22 by clicking here, OR
Call 937-456-8117 to have an application mailed to you. Calls must be made no later than Wednesday, April 15.
The Preble County Board of Elections hours are: 8am- 4pm, Monday - Friday.
Complete the application and mail it in. It is advised to mail it no later than Wednesday, April 22. Applications must be received by the Preble County Board of Elections no later than Noon on Saturday, April 25. Mail your application to:
Preble County Board of Elections
101 E. Main Street
Eaton, OH 45320
Once you receive your ballot in the mail, follow the instructions included with your ballot.
Use the provided return envelope to send your ballot back to the Board of Elections.
Your ballot must be postmarked by Monday, April 27 or you can drop it in the dropbox in front of the Preble County Board of Elections by 7:30 pm on Tuesday, April 28.
Visit the Preble County Board of Elections website for more information.