West Branch school board puts 3-year levy on fall ballot

BELOIT — The West Branch school board this week unanimously voted to place a half-percent earned income tax before district votes on the Nov. 5 ballot.

An earned income tax does not affect real-estate taxes within the district. If a resident is retired and receives no earned income from an employer, is not self- employed, and has no depreciable property, they will not pay the school income tax, school officials said.

The half-percent earned income tax is a three-year levy. Superintendent Timothy Saxton said, “The board made the decision to reduce the number of years that this would impact the residents of the community and kept the requested dollar amount the same.“

The district has made significant cuts in personnel and operational expenses in the last three years, Saxton said. The district has focused its efforts to reorganize and realign in an effort to minimize the long-term financial impact, but due to rising costs and unfunded mandates, there is a need for additional income.