New Philadelphia schools turn to income tax to fund new buildings
NEW PHILADELPHIA – The New Philadelphia School District is pursuing income tax instead of property tax to fund new school construction.
Superintendent Amy Wentworth says after three failed attempts at passing a bond issue and property tax levy, the district is taking a new approach.
“We really heard our seniors and our families tell us, ‘We can’t afford this [property tax increase],’ and so this is an attempt to respond to that need by our senior citizens or those with no earned income.”
She says the earned income tax would likely be 1.5 percent and applied to all residents of the New Philadelphia School District with an earned income, which would exclude most senior citizens.
“Quite frankly, in hearing our community say, ‘Our property taxes are too high and we don’t want to support more property taxes’… knowing that the need is still there, we said, ‘Is there another way we can look at this?’”
She says if the issue passes in May, the district would then lower property taxes by 0.5 mill.
“The earned income tax will allow us to reduce property taxes for everybody. Essentially for our senior citizens, not only are we saying this won’t cost you more, we’re actually saying a yes vote means your property taxes are going to be reduced by a half-mill.”
The Board of Education took the first step Wednesday, sending a request to the state tax commission to determine the exact income tax rate. Board members will vote on sending the issue to the ballot after the state responds.
Wentworth says the district will have a plan for new construction prior to the May election. She says the goal is still to replace all the existing buildings with new facilities on one or two campuses.
Wentworth says officials are looking at possible new land options that have become available, but she was not ready to share where those are.
Passage of the income tax issue would make the district eligible for state funding to cover more than half the cost of what previously was projected as a $145.5 million construction project.
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The New Philadelphia School District swore in two new School Board members Wednesday night. Andrew Zimmerman and Jane Bachman were the top two vote-getters among four candidates in November. They replace Denver Gallentine and Todd McMath, who did not seek re-election. Jennifer Schrock is the new Board president and Kelly Ricklic is the new vice president.