Jackson-Milton board seeks details on 5-year renewal levy

By Sean Barron

The board voted to put a permanent improvement issue on the ballot.

NORTH JACKSON — A five-year emergency renewal levy moved closer to appearing on the Nov. 4 general election ballot in the Jackson-Milton school district.

At a special school board meeting Monday, officials voted to ask the Mahoning County auditor what millage would bring in about $988,485 annually for general operating expenses, Treasurer John Zinger said.

The auditor will probably have the millage determined by next week, Zinger said.

A 5.5-mill operating renewal levy was defeated in the Aug. 5 special election by 60 votes, according to the unofficial results from election officials.

Board member Victor Wolfe said he opposes putting another property tax on the ballot, because he thinks many people feel that reliance on property taxes is unconstitutional.

Wolfe said he would like to consider an income tax instead, adding that people who have campaigned against property taxes might be less likely to oppose an income tax.

“We’ve got to change the way we do business,” Wolfe said. “I’d like us to do our homework.”

No action was taken on his suggestion.

School officials also gave a first reading to a 0.9-mill permanent improvement levy that also would be on the Nov. 4 ballot, and would generate around $72,000 each year.

Among the items those funds would go toward are computers and textbooks, as well as bus and building repairs, Zinger noted.