NEWS

Woodmore voters say no to school levies

Daniel Carson
Reporter

ELMORE - Woodmore Local School District voters overwhelmingly rejected an earned income tax levy Tuesday that could have injected more than $1 million annually into the district.

Voters also said no to an emergency renewal levy that would have raised about $600,000 annually for the district.

The failed earned income tax levy — 0.75 percent for 10 years — was deemed necessary after a major accounting error was discovered, angering residents and forcing the school board to bring in an outside firm to audit the district.

Woodmore Superintendent Linda Bringman said the district thanked the community and the levy committee for their efforts.

"We're disappointed in that outcome. Tomorrow's another day. We'll look at our financial situation and turn the page," Bringman said.

Based on unofficial results from the Sandusky and Ottawa County election boards, 762 people voted yes on the earned income tax levy with 1,408 voting no. In Ottawa County, almost 69 percent of voters voted no on the proposed levy.

For the renewal levy, 1,028 voters voted yes and 1,151 voted no, according to unofficial results. On that levy, 679 voters voted no in Sandusky County with 472 voting no in Ottawa County.

The earned income tax levy would have raised $1.05 million annually over the next 10 years. The district was reimbursed $280,000 last week to correct a 2013 overpayment from North Point Educational Service Center.

Despite the reimbursement, school officials said the district still needed the levy funds — both the renewal that would have generated $600,000 a year, along with the proposed emergency levy for $1.05 million.

"It helps us," district treasurer Jaime Pearson said Friday of the $280,000. "It doesn't change anything for the levy. We are projecting a cash balance of $50,000 as of June 30. That is not good for a $9.5 million (annual) budget."

The district accounting error resulted in the failure to properly phase out $430,000 in tangible personal property tax revenue from Woodmore's May 2014 five-year budget forecast, which forced the district to put the earned income tax levy on the ballot.

At the Woodville Fire Station polling location Tuesday night, Kelley Baumgartner said she voted no on both levies.

"They don't even know what they have, money-wise, in their district," Baumgartner said, adding that she wanted to see Bringman and school board president Steve Huss replaced.

John Benner also voted no on both levies. Both he and Baumgartner said they had always voted yes on previous Woodmore school levies until changing course Tuesday.

"Until they can show me they can manage this money, I'm not giving them any more," Benner said.

dacarson@gannett.com

419-334-1046

Twitter:@DanielCarson7