ASHLAND — The May primary election took place just two weeks ago.
But it’s already time for cities, villages, townships and school districts to begin preparing for the upcoming general election.
The Ashland City Schools Board of Education on Monday approved sending a 9.9-mill tax levy back to the ballot for renewal in November.
“This is a renewal of our one and only operating levy that’s on a renewal basis. (It was) approved as a five-year renewal back in 2021,” said Kyle Klingler, the district’s treasurer.
The levy generates about $5.4 million annually for the district, Klingler said.
As an operating levy, these generated funds pay for a wide variety of things throughout the district, including salaries and instructional supplies. Back in 2021, Klingler described the funds as contributing to “anything and everything” for the district.
The treasurer said the district will be putting the levy renewal back on the ballot as a continuing levy. Continuing levies are imposed for a continuing period of time with no set expiration date.
In response to the board’s approval Monday, the Ashland County auditor will be instructed to certify to the board the total taxable value of the district, the estimated property tax revenue the levy would produce and what the levy would cost property owners annually per each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value.
As a renewal — and if voters elect to approve the measure in November — it will not involve any additional taxation to taxpayers within the district’s boundaries.
“That is no new money,” Superintendent Steve Paramore said. “That is a renewal that has passed almost north of 68 to 69 percent in its last 10 years, being (renewed) every five years.
“Just like our (permanent improvement levy) renewal, we’re hoping that our constituents that vote on these types of things really understand that it is not new money to our taxpayers,” Paramore said.
