LIMA — Lima school district voters will vote on a 5.99-mill renewal property tax levy that is set to expire in 2017.
School board members unanimously approved to put the levy on the ballot for the Nov. 8 general election. The combined levy includes 1.5 mills for permanent improvements and 4.49 mills for operating expenses.
School treasurer Shelly Reiff told board members that everything was set to go for the levy.
“Your approval will allow me to file the paperwork to have it on the November ballot,” Reiff said.
Reiff said the tax was certified by county auditor Rhonda Eddy-Steinecker’s office at raising about $1.7 million annually, based on the school district’s $284 million current tax evaluation in taxable property.
Superintendent Jill Ackerman said volunteers who will be working to garner support for the levy are ready to go. She told the board that yard signs, literature and door signs are designed and ready to be printed and distributed. Literature will be mailed to residents in the district, and door signs will be distributed by volunteers.
“It usually doesn’t take long to distribute the door signs,” Ackerman said. “We usually have a lot of help.”
Voters will be voting on a five-year renewal. If approved, the levy would be first placed on the 2017 tax list for set for collection in 2018. The levy costs voters about $210 annually based on a $100,000 home.
Reiff said the district has shown good fiscal responsibility, showing a $17.3 million positive cash balance, up $5.9 million from last year. The school has 90.3 day true cash balance, compared to a 30-day cash balance which is considered very good, Reiff said.
The board also approved a Nov 10-12 trip for the Lima Senior High School Band to New York City to participate in the 97th annual New York City Veterans Day Parade and to perform in the Band of Pride tribute performance the following day remembering the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
First year band director Hannah Snyder notified the board at the May meeting that the band had been invited.
