Garrettsville – Forced by cuts from the state, the James A. Garfield school district will be seeking a 1.5% Earned Income Tax levy this November.
Superintendent Ted Lysiak shared the district’s current financial situation with village council last week. The district’s current finances show a significant decline even with the existing emergency levy in place.
How Did The District Land on an Earned Income Tax Levy?
This spring the high school statistics students designed a survey and polled the community. Over the spring 1,000 postcards were mailed to registered voters within the district. The survey received a 10% response rate — which Lysiak pointed out is quite good for such a broad survey. Participants in the anonymous survey received explanations of a traditional property tax, and an earned income tax. They were asked if they had children in the district, 63% of respondents did not. They were also asked whether they would rather support an earned income tax (50% did); a traditional property tax (35.2% do); or whether they do not support a levy at all (14.8%). The results of the survey showed a clear winner in the type of levy to go after, and shows strong community support for the pursuit.
The district and the levy committee examined a handful of scenarios based on feedback from the survey. Three options in particular were modeled to determine the best course of action, a .75%, 1%, and 1.5% Earned Income Tax.
The .75% tax was immediately ruled out as it only kept the district off the ballot for a few years. A 1% tax levy would meet the needs of the district, but only if the emergency levy was successfully renewed in 2019. Lysiak said that it felt wrong to ask for two levies back to back, especially in a county property appraisal year.
It was ultimately decided to pursue the 1.5% earned income tax levy because it will generate the same amount as a 1% + 5.2mil emergency levy, but will keep the district off the ballot for a minimum of 10 years. It will also allow a 5.2mil reduction in property taxes helping save residents money on their property taxes.
In addition, the Earned Income Tax option would lessen the burden on senior citizens in our community.
It is important to understand that the following income will NOT be taxed: social security benefits; disability and survivors benefits; railroad retirement benefits; welfare benefits; child support; property received as a gift, bequest or inheritance; workers’ compensation benefits; interest; dividends; and unemployment compensation. Income that IS taxed: earned income and self-employment income.
Lysiak also explained that currently 33% of districts in the state operate on Earned Income tax levies. He also reiterated that the school funding system in the state has been ruled unconstitutional four times, but that the schools cannot afford to wait for state to fix their broken system.
Levy Facts
Our community has been left with the responsibility to fund the programs that make our district excellent. We are faced with a choice to continue the tradition of excellence that makes our school district the pride of our community or go down the road that many of our neighboring districts have been forced to do – making drastic cuts to their schools.
The district cannot allow cuts to be the answer for our schools, now or in the future — our schools are the cornerstone of this community.
- The school district has not asked for an operating levy for 14 years. In that time the concept of funding schools via property tax has been ruled unconstitutional 4 times.
- The Garfield district serves communities with the lowest property tax rates in Portage County, and the current levy proposal would keep it that way— even lowering property taxes for retired members of the community.
- The emergency levy renewal is due to be renewed in 2019. If this year’s levy passes the school board will allow the levy to expire rather than seeking a renewal. Property owners would see a (5.2mil) reduction in their property taxes effective in the 2020 tax year.
J.A. Garfield Offers Exceptional Value
The JAG school district knows how to stretch every penny. Across the state the average expenditure per pupil is $11,603/pupil; in districts similar to ours the amount comes in at $10,927. By carefully monitoring their budget, and managing classroom size/open-enrollment JAG’s per pupil expenditures come in at only $9,887. [see levy handout]
Community Support
Historically the community has always been a huge supporter of the school district, most recently having passed the 2014 emergency levy by 76%. The district has also worked hard to reciprocate that support with a 5 million dollar grant which reunified the Intermediate school with the main campus; a partnership with the Greater Cleveland YMCA to fill the Park Avenue building; a partnership with the Athletic Boosters to provide ongoing safety and comfort improvements to the football stadium; updated playground equipment through the GES PTO; and a partnership with Charles Auto Family that brought a refurbished HS gymnasium floor. The district has also been making great strides toward reducing energy expenses with conversion to high-efficiency LED lighting in its buildings.
Educational Excellence
- The Garfield schools are consistently among the top performing in the county.
- The district offers 1:1 laptop technology for grades 6-12, college credit courses at the high school level, and has provided all-day-everyday kindergarten for the past fifteen year.
- Students are not charged to participate in activities — something that has become increasingly rare today. Garfield offers 19 Varsity and 11 Middle School sports as well as 24 Clubs – Interact, NHS, Student Council (2), Pep Club, BETA Club, Drama Club, Yearbook (2), Art Club (2), Spanish Club, French Club, Math Teams (2), Math 24 (2), Lego League (2), Student Leadership (2), Actively Caring for People (AC4P), Q&A Club, Chess Club
At the close of his presentation, Lysiak reminded council that the best ways to support the levy efforts are to put a sign in their yard in support of the G-Men Unite campaign, ensure that they are registered to vote, help “get out the vote”, and participate in fundraisers.
Currently a G-Men Unite t-shirt fundraiser is underway with 100% of the proceeds going to the levy fund. You can purchase your shirt on-line at www.villagerprinting.com or at the Villager Emporium and other area businesses.
Financial donations to the G-Men unite campaign are also being accepted — contact Chris Perme, campaign treasurer, or Ted Lysiak for more information.
