001Thank you. Okay, it's 6:00 p.m. January 28th, 2026. I call the to order the meeting of the Townage Board of Education. First thing on our agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Next order of business is roll call, please. >> Mrs. here. >> Here >> we're all here. >> Okay. Uh, welcome to visitors. Boy, we're not used to having visitors. Uh, if you want to speak, please sign the sheet up front here. Uh, put your name on it and, uh, we'll call on you. We're going to try to hold this to three minutes and a one-way conversation. What I want to hear or what we
002want to hear is what your thoughts are on these two items that are on our agenda and why if you could ex explain that too. So that's going to be the format. There's not much other business uh here. So Dave Klene, I think you were first. >> And and Dave, could you bring that sheet over here, too? Or >> I wasn't really going to speak tonight. I just wanted to hear what the other public besides at the first one. And I said what I wanted to say at the first one, but I I truly believe a property tax will not pass in May. >> I think that uh what's going on in the state level, the unknown is a property tax legal, is it not legal? People are so confused about that and people just
003can't afford it. And I think the you guys talked about the demographics last time and the ones who actually go out to vote uh that age group that primarily can't afford a property tax increase you know and but then the income tax it's a downside on that side too. You all not knowing that it was going to be all the renters in town. So all our rental properties, which they do pay property tax through their their money that they the property owners pay it, not the the renters, >> but a renter who's going to have to do an earned income. Do I go to Talmage and have to pay a the earned income of a threequarters percent or I move across the street into Elllet or into Akran or into Kent and you don't have
004to pay that. So, and we do have a lot of renters in town. >> Uh, will that create a lot of empty spots? You guys are in a pickle. Uh, I know you sounds like uh you need the money. I think that was well justified last time, but I just don't see a property tax will will pass and until it really hurts. And if you put the property tax on, it's going to if it fails, which I hope it doesn't, I'll I'll support it either way. Uh but if the property tax fails, then you're going to have to cut the busing and do all this other cuts that you stated before. And then once it starts hurting the parents who actually utilize that system, then um maybe you'll get something passed the next time. But
005it's my two cents. the quarter percent or the threequarters of percent, you know, that could affect the city of Tomage too. Now that in one city council, you know, our current income tax, that's how we survive. Will that take away our chance from going forward with any increases to the city? So, >> okay. Thank you, Dave. >> And where might my sheet be? Denise uh Bennington. >> Okay, >> Barb. Do I still have to give my address and name and all that? Barb mace. Um I live at >> on Dearwood in Woodland. Um so I'm hearing a mixed, you know, from coming here and then from speaking to other people. I'm hearing a mix between I want property and I want that. But I hear a lot of I don't want either one. um [clears
006throat] until the schools put some skin in the game, so to speak. And um you know, it could be just that those are the loudest voices and maybe not that many voices, but I do hear a lot of it. Um, turnout, as Dave said, we, you know, the seniors are a big part of our turnout and we, we know pretty much what they want. So, um, I don't have anything really to add on what type. Um, if I know you have to file something right away. Um, but I I'm just afraid without some kind of changes, meaningful changes that don't feel punitive. And I know busing is the big money uh item, but if a lot of people think it's punitive and I can see where it would hurt a certain demographic. So that's all.
007>> Okay. Thank you very much, Eric Leopold. Hi, good evening. Uh, so, uh, my name is Eric Lipold. Um, we live over on Sen Drive. Uh, we've been there for a few years, but I've graduated from Talmage years ago. Um, so I I don't know that I have anything really uh uh to say in in favor or against it. Uh, but I do have a couple questions. if uh I haven't looked over really any of the financial information that that uh is possibly available, but if you could um answer just a couple questions, that would be great. Um so the I mean the the idea behind the income tax income tax is that um right the the more people make um the more money that you guys that that the board gets. Uh and so
008and that's fine, right? Um but for everything for every increase that the taxpayers uh have means that they're taking less in their in their money, right? So, if your employer gives you a 4% uh cost of living wage increase, then essentially the um the well hopefully the schools will get additional money from that from all the taxpayers. But if we're if we add to that those taxes, those income taxes, then that's decreasing from your employer's cost of living raise, right? So if we have if if you're getting a 4% cost of living raise, you get taxed on on that money, then it's going to be less than 4%. And if we keep getting taxed by everyone, not just the not just the schools, >> right? But um if we get uh income tax as well
009as uh increased property taxes and things like that, then you're going to it's going to require your u your employers to give you more and more and more. And I I think they it's hard enough for employers to uh increase 4% on cost of living um and then take into account that people are getting taxed more. So, is there um is there information available on on that type of a of a study in terms of what what that's going to do to toes um income tax uh earners? Uh in terms of how much money is going to uh get to the schools, uh how much that's going to um you know what what uh What kind of increases are the taxpayers payers seeing in terms of income tax or in terms of payroll increases and
010is that going to be enough to u bridge that gap between what you're getting now and what and the requirements that are that will be in the future. So if if you tax us an additional 75% uh this year, why is that, you know, is it is another 3/4 of a percent going to be taxed next year or an additional those kinds of things? >> It stays at that level from henceforth. >> Okay. >> That's that's all it does >> until possibly need we need more money. >> Yeah. If we if we would this definitely that would help us in stability because as more people come in and that's load on our school systems >> we have more tax money coming in as people get increases. We have more tax money coming in. Are the
011people that are coming in on on a on a per person basis making more or are they making less? So, if we're bringing in a lot more um lower income people that we had previously, right? So, if let's say 10 people get added to the population uh in Talmage and they're making $100,000, right? >> The people that left, are they making less or are they making more? >> In other words, are the replacement people making more or >> I think if you look at the the new aotment that just went in and what the average income is up there, I I think well to to buy a $400 plus,000 house, you have to be making some money. So has has anything been done a study or anything been done in terms of in terms of
012that like are is uh is the threequarters of a percent how did you come up with threequarters of a percent basically >> from the state >> we yeah we submitted a request for that information very information we needed to gather so much money okay whether it's property tax or income tax. So that that was the number. We kind of worked it backwards and said to the state, what number would we need to get this? What is it? Three million something. >> Yeah. Three 3 million something. And uh they came up with 75. >> Okay. >> Based on tax filings. And this is this is filed to the state. It doesn't go through Rita, >> okay? >> It it's filed with your state >> numbers. >> So if let's say that does h does happen, a
013bunch of people move out people or or people move in that are making less. So that the threequarters of a percent possibly could not fit that need, right? >> Potentially, but that's not been the trend in town. Yeah, >> let's put it that way. >> Okay. >> I think I think uh the the city uh finance director could attest to that that the we haven't put any lowcost housing in this city in I don't know 50 years something like that. >> Okay. Okay. Anyway, that's that's kind of >> All good questions. Go ahead. >> So, I'm not uh this isn't to support or either one at this stage in the discussion, but um adding people without subtracting people is just going to be more money under that thing. >> You're you're worried about the replacement.
014You think you think very high earners are going to leave and lo the ratio doesn't matter to me. Every single person we add that makes any money at all gets taxed. That's more money. But the the more people that you add is is going to burden burden the existing base already. So, uh it's it's not just it's not just adding people, it's how much like on a per person basis. Um you're going to cost like so let's say uh each of those families that moves in has uh three kids, right? Are those three kids going to cost you more than what you're bringing in when they move in? Yeah, but hear me out. No matter what tax we did, if those people move in, they move in. >> So if they move in the way
015that it's currently set up, if it's not replaced, if it's just extra houses, >> Yeah. >> then theoretically everyone's taxes go down, property taxes go down slightly as those people are also paying property taxes because we collect a set amount, >> not a percentage. >> So if those people move into a brand new house, we collect the same amount of property tax. If they are earning income and they're added to the city of Townage, whatever our burden is, the kids live with them whether no matter what tax system we have, if they move in with their kids, the property tax, we wouldn't collect any more money. The earned income tax, we would >> assuming that those that so so those three kids cost the schools u something to each kid cost the schools something to
016put put through the schools, right? >> Right. If those kids are costing more than what the people are supporting in taxes, then we're going to be >> they always >> underwater. >> Well, they always will, though. No matter what we're doing, we're taxing more people than just the people that have kids. So, every time a family moves into town with kids, no matter what, it kind of costs us money. >> Yeah. And and yeah, I get that. But overall, it's that's just one component of it, right? So those types of things uh I I don't know if if those studies have been done to say, okay, these are the trends that we're seeing and that that threequarters of a percent is going to be enough to to deal with what we what we need or
017next year. Well, three quarters wasn't enough. We need to add another quarter to that. >> All right. So you haven't seen I believe the previous because you said you haven't really looked at it much. If you haven't seen the previous stuff we put out about like why we need to ask for money more money every certain amount of time and any of that >> take a look at that. >> So that that might be a good place to start because once you understand that right then the conversation about which way do we need to try to raise these funds that we feel necessary. Um then it's just a matter of like who's going to take on more the burden of that tax. And all I'm trying to explain to you is without telling you which
018side I currently support, the earned income tax, if a new family moves in and they're not replacing a family, that will give us more money. If it's a property tax, that will not give us more money. >> Okay. Thanks. Yeah. >> That's pretty much all I had. Thanks. >> Next, uh John Ray. Hi, I'm John Ray, live on Kevin Drive. Um, I think that the decision you guys make tonight is not a binary one. It's it's not a heads or tails property tax, earned income. I just don't think it's that simple. Um, I think when you factor in all of your options as you make your decision, you have to factor in the likely outcome and it's it it's just becomes very clear that if you do that, there's only one viable option that you
019have tonight. Um there is no question in my mind that a property tax levy has a 0 uh% chance uh of approval by Talage voters in May. In fact, if I were you, I wouldn't put a property tax on regardless if you decide not to go with the earned income tax. I don't think a property tax is going to pass. However, I do believe that the alternate uh earned income tax option um with our school uh funded by the ability to pay and not on the value of your home has a fairly good chance of passing uh in May. I've looked at the uh some of the results that they uh implemented in in Norton and I think that you know just again from a thousand feet perspective I believe that it will or could
020have a chance to pass. I I think you've got two roads for this board to choose from tonight. I think the road you choose will take the entire community with you. your decision will impact the lives of the families of Talmage for the next decade. I really do believe that and in my opinion the one choice that will lead to somewhat financial stability over the next three to five years and I fear that the other one will lead to possible fiscal oversight by the state. I think almost every school district that touches Talmage is almost in some kind of fiscal oversight. And I just I fear that if we don't do something as drastic or as new as uh as an earned income tax that we may be headed in that same direction. I strongly
021urge you to choose a better way to fund our schools, ones that ask voters to contribute based upon what they earn and not what they own. Thank you. Thank you, Joe. Anybody else like to speak? >> Yeah. Uh yeah, come on up. walked [laughter] in the building, right? >> Just state your name for the record, please. >> Carol Siciano Kilway. I live at 427 Melanie Lane here in Talmage. Um, current mayor of Talmage, lifelong resident of Talmage. um went to Talmage public schools. You know, my kids all graduated from Talmage High School. You guys do an excellent job of educating our youth. Um my kids are perfect examples. They're all professionals. Um I have no qualms with what you're doing, educating our kids at all. You're doing a fantastic job. Some of the research that
022I've done um and that um Mr. Wood has given me, you guys are very fiscally um conservative. one of the lowest costs per pupil um in the area. What is it? A little over $12,000 it costs to educate each pupil. So, I don't have any problems with anything that you guys are doing, you know, with that. You have a huge decision to make as to whether you're going to do an earned income or the property tax. And I just I urge you to really make sure and see how it's going to affect our community as a whole because whatever you decide will also impact um the city and the services that we provide to all of our residents too. Um as most people know, you know, we receive services income tax. Um that quarter% can
023only be used to fund our safety forces and it we're we're using that for the very very expensive capital equipment that we have to purchase for our safety forces. A firet truck is no joke. It's a million dollars and it takes three years to build. I mean it's there's a lot of insane expenses at the city. I think I know I had a conversation with Steve when I first became mayor um and I had known for probably eight to 10 years before that at some point in time with the way our city is growing the city's going to have to go back to the residents for additional income tax in order to fund our safety services primarily our fire department. Our fire department has exploded over the last 10 years. We hit over 4,000 calls
024for service last year. um they are busy, >> you know, you know, tell you >> and it's very expensive to hire firefighters and to train them. And so you have a huge, huge decision to make here. Um just some additional information that I received just this week from our um from our Summit County. She is our state liaison um legislative liaison, Colleen Kelly. um the property tax citizens initiative that everyone's afraid of is crumbling. Um they do not think that it's going to make the November ballot. So there's a little bit of relief there. Just to let you know on that and the state does realize that they that this is something that probably is going to keep coming around. So they realize that they're going to have to do something. One way for people
025to get schools funded properly is to vote people down at the state that are going to have our public schools be a priority. The the state has to start funding our public schools right now. They're defunding the schools and it's horrible. So, we just need to get that out there that we need to vote people in. I don't care what party they are, but they need to know that public school is important and that's our future. So, we need to do that. Um my fear if we go with an earned income tax, we have a lot of our residents that work in Akran, so they're already paying 2 and a half% income tax to Akran. We have reciprocity, so the city of Talmage doesn't get any of that. And then they're going to get taxed
026another 3/4 of a percent. So they're in essence are going to be paying three and a quarter% income tax because they live in Talmage. Um there's a huge population that's my age, you know, in in a 10 10ear span that our kids are we're they're done. They're not in school anymore. They love Talmage and they want to stay here because they love Talmage. Um, but they're going to see this and they're going to see the income the increase in their taxes and it I'm afraid that it's going to be a grand exodus of Townage. I'm afraid that all those people are going to get up and move out to Wadssworth where they don't have to worry about, you know, an an income tax. So, you have a huge decision to make, but please make sure
027that you you think of our community as a whole because we are a great gem in this in this county and we need to keep it that way. And that's all I have to say. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Carol. All right. Uh, anybody else? >> I question forgot >> a question. Can you remind us likeies? I know. I mean, I'm assuming that there's no change, right? The levy was passed and it continues on, >> right? >> Jeff, >> there's one levy that we have that will be ultimately needing to be renewed. Uh, but that's that's the only one we have. bond issues are set for the length of the terms of the bond. The PI that we just passed is a continuing and all of our general fund levies are continuing except one
028which is an emergency levy and I believe that's I don't know the date that it expires. I think it's three years maybe. It's It's not anytime like next year or anything. >> November that will continue. >> Which operating? >> The one that we just passed. >> Oh, yeah. It was passed as a continuing. Yes, the renewal. >> Right. It was it was a renewal and it was passed again uh as this time as a continuing. So, yes. Um what's the uh we were discussing over here with the mic's not live. What's the uh what's the bond issue that's going to fall off in like 2030? Isn't there one >> for the high school? >> Yeah. So that would be something to take into account, >> right? It's 2032 I think is the last year of
029collections. So it was 27year bond which we sold in 2005. You said also, sorry, >> the one that's going to come off in three years, the emergency that will go back on the ballot for renewal. >> Certainly. Yes. >> Yeah. There's there there's never been, at least in my known career, a a levy that was passed and has been collected by the school district that all of a sudden they don't need. So any levy that comes due is is renewed or put up for renewal. Yes. Okay. Thank you very much. That concludes the open conversation here. Now, what I'd like to do is take it to our folks and go through us individually and uh what your feelings are and um what you you think um strongly about. >> Where do you want to start,
030Mike? >> I'll start with you. [laughter] [clears throat] >> All right. Well, I didn't I didn't craft any kind of speech or anything, so I'm going to shoot from the hip and hopefully not embarrass myself. But um let me start with uh Eric when I was saying that like I'm not trying to tell you which way I'm leaning either way. Um really it was because I actually also believe we should do a property tax, right? So while I was telling you all the reasons that an earned income would bring in more, you know, whatever, I actually fall on the side of I think we should just continue to do a property tax. I think that that's kind of like staying in our lane. I think when we start to do the earned income tax, we
031start to bleed over into how the city collects their money. And and uh candidly, some people have said that they didn't think a property tax on the May ballot could pass. Um I don't love our chances for either one. Unfortunately, we find ourselves in a position where I'm very very fiscally conservative when we look at the cuts that we've already made and all the reasons that that where we've, you know, over time we have to ask for more money. Um, people don't want more taxes. they don't feel like they're making enough more money to pay the more tax, but we have to ask for it because we get less funding from the state and and we have to pay our teachers more each year and all the kind of things that I've highlighted previously. Um,
032for those reasons, we need to ask for more money and if we don't get it, then we have to start doing drastic things. And people feel like cutting busing is punitive, but cutting busing is cutting an expense because you guys have told us we don't want to pay for that anymore. if you like if we can't collect the money then we can't pay the money and we have to start cutting things and we do whatever we can to not touch the classroom for as long as we can. Um but at some point it becomes laying off teachers, right? And higher classroom sizes and we're not we're not mismanaging money. We're not spending money wildly. We're we're per pupil very inexpensive um in comparison to a lot of our neighbors. We're actually educating children very well
033um and running very lean. But if we can't collect money for the cost that we have, then we can't do that anymore. You will see test scores drop. You will see kids have less options for for education and all that kind of thing. And so I'm not a uh tax everyone and throw throw money away. I'm the literal opposite of that. But this is a genuine need. That's why we come to you asking for more money between the earned income tax and the property tax. The other kind of point is we all run in different circles, people that we have conversations with, right? And that's going to formulate some of our opinions. I went into this originally months ago feeling like, well, neither one's a good option, but I think an earned income tax has
034a chance to pass because the elderly people in townage that vote more consistently, we'll support that because it doesn't cost them any money and that's the one that we can pass possibly. And so, initially, I was kind of leaning that direction um just because I felt like it was my responsibility to the students of Talmage to pass whatever we could. what did I think we could pass? Um, after praying about it and uh and doing some some more research and talking to some people, like I said, the circles that we run in, I have had zero people reach out to me, zero, and say personally say, um, I'd prefer an earned income tax. I have had eight to 10 people reach out to me personally and say, Todd, you better not. like we hate that
035idea. And that's just that's just the people I know, right? That's the people that have reached out to me personally have all said, "We understand the need. We can support a property tax. We understand that costs go up and you need to collect more money and you don't get raises as property taxes go up. We understand that that concept. We can support that. We can't support you going into our pockets, you know, um on an earned income tax." The other piece I will say, and this is going to be unpopular because people hate this point of view, but it's just it's my opinion. Um, people talk about seniors being on a fixed income and how that can be difficult to navigate, and I understand that. Um, I would argue that a lot of people that
036have 40-hour a week jobs are also on a fixed income. >> You're taking all my points. >> Oh, you can you can do the same points eventually, Jen. Um, so, uh, so a lot of us are dealing with fixed income and price has risen in that. I will say the that social security this year got a 2.8% cost of living adjustment, right? For the average senior, it's I think it's like 40 no 54 56, you know, per month change. Um, but to say fixed income, you never get an increase. Of course, you do, right? The other thing is the one big beautiful bill that became the one big beautiful law um has some things in there, no taxes on tips, all that kind of stuff. One of those is for seniors an extra tax deduction
037which doesn't technically stop taxing social security, but for most seniors in effect that's what it does. it it raises the threshold from when they would start to get taxed to where most seniors that collect social security because of that change for the next four years or so will not be taxed on their social security. So, we're asking for I am supporting a raise in property taxes because I think that's our lane and what we should do and for all the reasons outlined. Um I don't want my friends to hate me if we try and earn income tax either. >> Thanks a bunch. Um, Miss Ross, please. >> Okay, I know I should say more than ditto, but a lot of the points that Todd said are everything that I've heard yesterday. It was like that
038last minute crunch of I need to make sure I am reaching my people that I talk to and I respect. And so I did, you know, I called neighbors and I texted a bunch of people and I said, "Okay, it's down to the wire. Earned income property. Where do you stand?" And I had a range from single parents, new to the ne new to the neighborhood, um, lifelong residents that have been here for 50 years and have loved their home and will stay here until the very end end of time. Out of everyone I talked to, one family said earned income that was not above 65 and retired. I will say I had two people, two families that I asked said, "We like this one. That's a better option." I said, "Of course you do."
039And then one of them retracted and said, "We've paid for our schools even though our kids are in their 40s and we will continue to support Talage schools regardless because that's why we moved to Townage. That's why I moved to Talmage." When I knew that we were moving to Summit County, I looked at the schools. I wanted to be in a place where our fire department's great, our police department's great, our city is great, and our schools are stellar. So, we moved here over 20 years ago. We put down roots. We paid our property taxes before our kids were even in school. And I have a proud 2025 graduate and a 2027 upcoming graduate. I agree with Todd. I feel I don't love our chances for either. To be honest, I feel like it's going
040to be a problem. But again, what Mayor Kilway said, until we have the right people down in Columbus advocating for public schools and making the change, there's so much that relies on the individual citizens of the communities to figure out. So, yes, we need to make those changes. We need to make sure we're voting for the right people and um advocate for public education, but at this point, I am an advocate for property tax. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Well, I'm probably going to say a lot of the same things that you just heard. Um I do want to thank you guys for coming out. Uh this has been a very challenging uh time for the school board and you know I'm this is my first month on the school board so I'm learning a
041lot. Um yeah trial by fire for sure. So, we are not taking this decision light lightly and uh as Mayor Kilway said, the state of Ohio has placed a significant burden on our local school districts and our residents. And as a school board, there's nothing that we can do to change that. We have two options to fund our schools. Property tax or earned income. That's it. Uh, so as we look at all this and we hear all the different opinions, you know what both of them said. So I work for the Chamber of Commerce, so I'm very plugged into our business community and I hear very strongly from them. They do not want an earned income tax. It's been very clearly laid out to me. Um, as somebody who is uh a leader within the
042business community, I understand the economic impact that this decision will have on the city. Um, I completely agree with everything Mayor Kilway said is, um, we have to, well, to use Todd's terms, we have to stay in our lane. Um, I'm not confident that either one will pass either. I mean, I think we are straight 5050. uh down in our community there is just it's just a very divisive issue at that. So as we decide we're looking at economic impact, we're looking at uh the financial stability of the school system and we are looking at what is fair and again that's not an easy thing to to balance out but um we have to try and you don't get what you don't ask for. And so I think we've made our case very clear that
043it is a necessary ask for money. Our schools um impact our property values, not just our property taxes. If you look at the five-year strategic plan that the city did, a large portion of folks that move into this town, just like Jen said, is because of the schools. So, if we start not funding our schools and, you know, we have to make these cuts, larger class sizes, nobody wants larger class sizes, state minimum busing, those are things that will impact other folks as they're looking at the community. Um, so it's it goes beyond just like the right now. You know, there there are going to be consequences to this. So, um, I'm in favor of a property tax. I know, you know, I feel for our seniors. When I was helping in the fall and
044doing my campaign and I was going doortodoor, I, you know, I I heard the stories and it's hard and it's amazing how much nicer everybody is when you talk to them face to face and not on how much talk. So, yeah. [laughter] Um, I would say I I think I could say for all of us up here, it's like have conversations with us. Um, let's let's talk and uh because it's not just the five of us, you know, we're all in this together. So, um, let's keep having these conversations and, uh, do what's best for the kids. >> Okay. Thank you, Chad. >> Well, um, I'm going to start with just a couple of surveys that we got. Um, of course, uh, we did a great job reaching out to the community. We didn't get
045a ton of responses, but we got a decent amount of responses. And the community said, uh, 58% wanted property tax. And then we also recently asked even our staff that live here in Townage, uh, what they prefer, and they prefer 66% for property tax. I can echo everything that all three of these said. Um, similar to Todd, all the people that have come to me in my circles, everybody wants property tax to the tune of about 70 80%. Um, I don't have much more to add to what they said because if you had asked me in November, I I would have been on earned income. We felt that that was the better way to go. Um but I've listened to the community a lot in the last two and a half months and um I
046mean most people but I will say as far as our lane is concerned and yes this all starts from the the state and what we're I mean I kind of wanted to do earned income with 25k to 250k you know just tax those people in there but Ohio revised code says we can't do that. It has to be flat tax which is what the state just pushed us all to here in 2026. you know, we're now 2.75% flat tax. Um, yeah, I would have loved to have done that, but as far as staying in their lane, I feel like we should try this one more time. I feel like all of the people that we heard from that that don't want the earned income, please support us. Get your friends to support us, we have
047to pass this. If we don't, I suggest we leave our lane and in the fall we go to earned income. So, that's where I'm at. I want to do property one more time and if it doesn't pass we will absolutely go down the next lane. >> Could you tell us about the numbers? You gave us the percentages on the survey. Could you speak to the numbers? >> 66. >> Oh the% >> the wrong number. >> Yeah. So 33 teachers responded last night. Uh thanks 33. I think there's >> 50 60 about 60 town staff that live. So o just over half uh responded and and they only had last night. Uh so it was very grateful to get the responses that we got. Chief and I met yesterday about this in my office after he
048met with Mr. Wood and and I'm I'm telling you we have had so many conversations about this in the last three months. So many because and and I'm very appreciative to the community because a lot of people have been reaching out to us telling us how they how they think and and I read the town much talk stuff. I know what's what's going on. Um kudos to Kelly for reading even more than I do and being like h did you see that? So anyways, uh 33 uh and then for the the community, we got 41 responses. So not a high number, but kudos to everybody that did respond to us. So um yeah. >> Okay, so that's where Thank you. All right, I'll take a moment on the soap box here. First, we wouldn't be
049here if it wasn't for the state yanking $2 million out of our budget. Pull that out of uh whatever our numbers are. Uh that's why we're here. That's why we're asking for money. Uh and I don't think it's going to get any better at the state. Uh quite honestly, I think they're intending to pull more money. The percentage that they give us is decreasing. It's not going up. It's not even staying flat. So, um again, speak to your state representatives. We got to change some things down there. And those folks need to be uh cognizant of 90% of the students in this state go to public schools. We can't be given a billion dollars to a voucher system and supporting private schools. We can't do that. U so talk to your state representative. All right.
050I'll step down off of that box. Uh this is a hard decision. You're absolutely right. Uh back in November, um 60% of the people told us no. That's a hard no. That's a hard hell no. Should we return with virtually the same thing and try to be blunt, jam it down their throats again? I don't think so. I think they're they asked us to do something different. uh we don't have many different things that we can do. We only have two choices. Um so run the other play. Uh I think think earned income tax is a fairer tax. Fair is important. Ability to pay. Ability to pay. I'm not going to the uh uh that's they're on a fixed income. It's ability to pay. These older people don't have the ability to pay. Getting a
051$58, which is what I got, increase in uh social security, that sure doesn't help. That doesn't give you an ability to pay. So I I think as much crying as as I've heard from people, they have the ability to pay and a large number of them and I don't have any numbers that support this, but a large number of them have kids in the district going to school here. If they're working, they're generally have kids one, two, three or more. uh so they have the ability to pay. Is earned income good for the the district? Heck yes. It it gives us some some continuity of finance as as I said as people come in the it goes up. Uh the only downturn to it is if the economy goes to to poop. And uh if
052that happens, we do what we're doing going to have to do right now. Uh pull in uh services and lay teachers off. So that's that's that's this is that's a better that's a better way to fund schools and it diversifies our portfolio if you would. We don't have all our eggs in one basket. Uh earned income or property tax. We're we're leaning way hard to property tax, but I'm not sure in the next two years that's going to be a thing. Uh with the the temperature I I get from the state. I I don't I don't know what's going on down there quite honestly. Um sorry, I had to put notes in here to keep keep going. Good for elderly. uh does not affect their pensions. We we beat this to death. Uh those people
053aren't going to pay. And as far as I know, not many of them have kids in the district unless they're guardians to uh grandkids. I heard the the term and um house rich and cash poor. There's a lot of those people in this town that are house rich and cash poor. They're getting their minimum social security income, some minor pension, which has a a cola raise of, as mine did, 2%. Uh, their income isn't going up, and they have no way to make more income unless they go to work in McDonald's. So, I don't think people work all their life to be pushed out of their house by taxes. quite honestly. Um, and let's let's talk to the the state income tax. Okay, I did some looking into this. The state income tax, any anybody
054have an idea what it was back in 2005, what percentage we were paying. >> Six something. Yeah, six something. It's done nothing but gone down. In 23 2023, we were paying 3.688. Now, this is based on 100,000 income. Most most uh families with two incomes hit that number. So, I'm going to use that throughout all of this. 23, we were paying uh 3.688. 24 it went to 3.5. 2025 just last year it went to 3.12 uh five 3 and a quarter 26 this year it went to a flat tax. So everybody at the top there is no more brackets. Everybody pays 2.75. What we're asking for is 75. That takes us to 3.5. That's exactly what we are being taxed on in 24. Okay. So, so that misery that people are saying, "Oh, this is
055going to this is going to push people out." I don't believe it will. I do not believe it will. It's exactly the same amount of money that was coming out of your pocket and going to the state. The only good news is part of it comes back now to the schools. I feel pretty good about that. Um, so flip the page. So from 2023, if you go back to that, we'd actually asking for 75 in 2023, we'd actually be paying a quarter% less than what we were in 2023. And that ain't very far in the rear view mirror. So that's that's my feeling on earned income. and you talk to people, depends upon what group you're talking to, uh just go down to uh McDonald's any morning and uh sit and have a cup of
056coffee with the table, the coffee clutch there and ask them what they think. They're very into earned income tax and people uh we were when we were on the campaign p trail, we're pounding on doors. guy tells me, "You know what? I'd like to own my house sometime. I'm paying more now in taxes than I did in my house payment." And that wasn't that many years ago, 20 years ago. So, I'd like to own my house sometime. Um, that's that's my feeling on it. uh community stability uh that keeps our our our elderly in their house and gives us some stability to that. I think that's a good thing. Fairness, ability to pay. Just think ability to pay, transparency. Voters approve this rate and it stays the same. uh no hidden uh increases and um
057of house assessments. You know, everybody in this county got hit with clobbered with 30% increase. Uh that doesn't get touched with an earned income. It doesn't touch it. So that's my feeling on that. All right. Uh, next part of the agenda, if I can bring it back up here, is um resolutions. Now what what I come to understand is in order in the state of Ohio in order to pass a property tax the board we have to have a twothirds majority. So four of us need to vote for that uh to to make it go forward. Uh an earned income tax is just a simple majority. Uh we need three out of five. So any more input? Just one point of clarification on what you had said. The uh 30% increase in property values doesn't
058equate to a 30% increase in taxes collected. I just want to make >> someone's that went up 60% Yeah. >> is going to pay more in taxes. Some ones that only went up 10% might end up paying less. But >> yeah, >> that that is correct. And that's that's the other shame of it is House Bill 920 does not let us that's why we have to keep coming back. We have no way of this this going up with the value of homes. Uh it's enough [laughter] one more point of clarity if I may. The numbers that you're referring to just so that we're on the same page. You were talking about 100,000 plus at the 3.1 the 3.6 because it's always been 2.75% for the first $100,000 >> up to 100,000. >> Right. So the
059numbers that you're referring to the high income earners are now flat taxed at 2.75 which is the three quarter that we were asking for. Yeah. I'm I'm just following you just so we're all on the same page. It was the 100,000 plus people that you were referring to in those decreases in taxes. And I would argue that that's a very large percentage of townage residents, >> but it would theoretically, sorry, >> but it would theoretically adversely affect looking back in the rearview mirror >> the people that are below 100,000, >> right? >> The earned income. >> Yes. It you're right. It would it would >> All right. Um, next uh part of the agenda is 3.1 resolution to proceed with a 5.6 mil property tax. Do I hear a >> a motion? >> Motion. >>
060I'll second. >> I have a motion and a second. I don't think we need to discuss much more. Um clerk call the or not clerk um treasure call the role. >> Mr. Lowry >> I. >> Mr. Davis >> I. >> Mrs. Blaus >> I. >> Mrs. Ross >> I. >> Mr. Perelli. >> Nay. >> Okay. Uh next resolution. resolution to proceed with 75 uh school district earned income tax. Anybody hearing? None. Uh we'll leave that one and die. All right. Uh do I have a motion to adjurnn? So move >> motion and a second. Mr. Davis. >> Hi, >> Mr. Lowry. >> Hi, >> Mrs. Claus. >> Hi, >> Mrs. Ross. >> Hi, >> Mr. Pastor. I We are adjourned.