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Little Miami returning to ballot

Voters will be faced with two tax issues  in May.

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By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 11:49 AM Thursday, February 18, 2010

HAMILTON TWP. — Little Miami school board took the final step Tuesday night, Feb. 16, toward placing two tax issues on the May 4 ballot.

The two measures, if passed, will not be enough to avoid a deficit in the district, which will fall into fiscal emergency this summer with the Ohio Department of Education, regardless of the election outcome.

Voters will be asked to approve a 1 percent earnings tax, which will generate about $6.4 million a year, and a 6.483-mill operating levy, which will generate about $4.9 million a year.

The operating levy, if passed, will cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $199 a year in property taxes.

School board members and Superintendent Dan Bennett called the proposals a compromise with voters, who have rejected the last four tax requests.

“We’ve got to stop fighting as a community. We’ve got to continue to listen to our residents,” Bennett said.

Bill Brausch, leader of the levy opposition group Citizens for Fair Taxes, said his group will support the 1 percent earnings tax and will not actively oppose the proposed operating levy.

Julie Perelman, leader of the pro-levy group Panther Pride, said educating the public will be tough this time because Panther Pride is completely out of campaign funds.

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