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Local issues filed for November ballot

8/16/2012 - South Side Leader
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By Kathleen Folkerth

SUMMIT COUNTY — Voters living in the South Side News Leader’s coverage area will see several issues on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot.

The 90-day filing deadline for the Summit County Board of Elections was Aug. 8. The following includes a rundown of the issues that were filed for the ballot. As of presstime, issue numbers had not been assigned.

Coventry

In Coventry, voters will see a renewal of a current fire/emergency medical services (EMS) levy on the ballot.

The five-year, 2.25-mill levy would not cost voters additional money, said Coventry Fiscal Officer Joni Murgatroyd. She has said the renewal levy is critical to the support of Coventry’s fire/EMS daily operations and generates $512,807 annually.

Voters also will see a 9.96-mill operating renewal levy for the Coventry Local Schools District.

This levy is different than the combined 5.99-mill levy and bond issue that voters defeated in the Aug. 7 Special Election. That bond issue would have helped to fund the construction of a new high school and renovations to existing school buildings.

According to Treasurer Aaron Butts, the five-year levy would generate about $2.9 million a year. This levy is used for operating expenses, and since it is a renewal, it would not add additional taxes, he said.

Green

Voters living in Green will see six proposed charter amendments on the ballot.

The proposed charter amendments were recommended by the Charter Review Commission, according to city officials.

The most debated proposed amendment among Council members asks voters if the city mayor should be able to serve three consecutive four-year terms, as opposed to two consecutive four-year terms, as is now allowed by the charter.

If approved by voters, the five other proposed charter amendments would:

√ require a mayor to treat the position as a full-time job;

√ create new time limits for Council to fill a Council vacancy and only allow a new Council member to be appointed between 30 and 45 days after a vacancy occurs;

√ change how Civil Service employees obtain positions, which no longer would be based on test scores alone;

√ allow 15 percent of the 7 percent of income tax revenues allocated to the city parks and recreation program to be used for special events and programming; and

√ allow Council to correct typographical errors in the charter and make corrections so it is in compliance and consistent with state law.

Norton City Schools levy

New Franklin voters living in the Norton City School District will see a request for a 1.9-mill continuing levy.

According to district officials, the levy would generate $532,903 annually. Superintendent David Dunn said the additional funds would go toward operating expenses, mostly personnel-related items such as salaries and insurance.

According to Treasurer Stephanie Hagenbush, the levy, if passed, would cost about $58 per year for the owner of property valued at $100,000.

Springfield

A renewal of a 3-mill, five-year police levy will be before Springfield voters.

According to Trustee Dean Young, the levy generates $465,467. He has said it is not a new tax and would continue services of the Springfield Police Department.

Summit County Children Services Board levy

Voters in Summit County will see a request to renew Summit County Children Services’ 2.25-mill levy.

The six-year renewal would fund the protection and placement of abused and neglected children in Summit County.

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