Voters are making their voices heard as they approve a measure to reduce taxes in the Claymont City School District in the unofficial result in the November 3rd general election.
The ballot issue was originally placed as a reaction to the board of education approving an inside millage switch that will raise taxes in 2027. A group of citizens gathered signatures and placed Issue 4 on the ballot to reduce a 2020 levy.
Greg DiDonato, Dennison’s mayor and village resident, says this approval will offset the tax increase from the millage switch.
“From the early on reaction it really came down to the mistake made here that, I don’t care if it’s this school district or any school district, property taxes in Ohio is presumed the public votes on them, and it should never be taken for granted. This race was really about the right to vote.”
School district Superintendent Brian Rentsch gave a reaction with just over a 1,000-vote difference.
“We’re disappointed for the vote for the school system. I hope that the energy placed into revoking the levy for Claymont is also placed in fighting our state legislatures to reduce property taxes on the homeowners and farmers and to put a balance to property tax. We need to have open dialogue to our citizens going forward. I think it was a bad situation, but I think it was a mistake just assuming that we can just raise taxes on somebody without really having a vote.”
Rentsch adds that the district will have to make some hard choices.
“The Board of education will have to take a hard look at losing $782,000 from our finances and make the necessary changes.”
Rentsch notes that it’s unknown where the 2 mills would drop off since the 2020 levy allocated 3 mills into the operating fund and 2 mills in permanent improvements.
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