Income tax levy approved

By DREW STAMBAUGH

Enterprise News Editor

A big part of the Swanton Local School District's financial well being will remain in place at least five more years.

On Tuesday, voters approved a renewal and decrease of the district's five-year income tax levy. The measure passed 2,513 to 2,112 or 54 percent to 46 percent.

With the passage, the income tax in the district will drop from 1.25 percent to 0.75 percent. The decrease will go into effect in January 2010.

The biggest support for the levy came form within the Village of Swanton. In the four village precincts it passed 1,080 to 652 or 62 percent to 38 percent.

No votes outnumbered yes votes in every Lucas County precinct with the exception of Swanton Township 3.

When the decrease goes into effect a person earning $50,000 per year will pay $375 a year. Someone earning that same amount this year will pay $625.

"The income tax levy is important for the district in that it will continue to provide a stream of income that is vital to maintaining the current programs that the district offers,' said School Board President Dennis Heban.

The levy is projected to collect about $1.4 million per year at the lower rate.

The school board asked for a rare decrease in the levy because of worries that it would not pass at its current 1.25 percent rate. They needed to ensure that a stream of money was still coming into the district.

"When I called the Ohio Department of Taxation, I spoke to a gentleman named Mike Sobul and he did tell me that in his tenure there we are the first district that has ever made a phone call to him asking about reducing taxes," district treasurer Cheryl Swisher said earlier this year. "Of course, he gave me his disclaimer, saying 'I can't believe you're doing this,' but to his knowledge we are the first district voluntarily reducing taxes."

The school board also decided to let the permanent improvement levy roll off this year.