Wayne County voters to weigh six levy issues
DGKN staff report
Six local issues involving school districts, fire districts, township and local options are on the primary ballot for voters in Wayne County to consider when they head to the polls May 2.
Taxpayers can find proposed levy information on the Wayne County Auditor’s website at waynecountyauditor.org.
According to Ohio law, property taxes may be levied by any county, township, city, village, school district or other special district by resolution of its governing body. Real property taxes are imposed locally with voter approval of tax levies at the ballot box in the primary and general elections.
With the upcoming Primary Election on May 2, Wayne County Auditor Jarra Underwood wants to make sure that voters are informed and have access to resources that will help them cast their vote on election day, according to a news release provided by MacKenzie Taylor, information officer for the Wayne County Auditor.
“As an elected official I never take the right to vote for granted, it’s a freedom that many places in the world do not have. I think we all agree on the importance of voting- elections are determined by voters that show up,” Underwood said in the release.
The auditor’s office receives phone calls from property owners across the county during election season regarding levy information and the impact that these levies will have on property tax bills.
What levies are on the May 2 Primary ballot?
There is one countywide issue for the Wayne County Care Center and several local issues involving school districts, fire districts, townships, and local options across the county:
* Southern Sugar Creek Twp Fire: 2.0-mill additional levy for three years for fire and EMS
* Triway Local School District: 2.8-mill renewal levy for three years for emergency use
* Wooster City School District: 6.7-mill additional school bond levy for 36 years
* Wayne County: 1.2-mill renewal with increase for five years for the county Care Center
* Central Fire: 4.0-mill continuing levy renewal with increase for fire and EMS
* Clinton Township: 1.5-mill renewal levy for four years for fire services.
What impact will these levies have on my taxes?
If a present tax rate does not generate enough revenue to cover expenditures proposed, additional millage must be placed on the ballot for voter approval during an election.
If a levy is successfully passed on the ballot, the increase to a taxpayer is determined by the number of mills and the assessed value of a property.
The property tax rate is measured in mills; a mill is one-tenth of a cent. This translates to $1 for each $1,000 of assessed property value while the assessed value is calculated by taking 35% of the total appraised value. So, a property with an appraised value of $100,000 would have an assessed value of $35,000.
How are my taxes calculated?
For a breakdown of how property taxes are calculated- property owners can refer to the county auditors’ site and fill in property specific information.
1. www.waynecountyauditor.org
2. Info tab at the top
3. Real Estate Tax
Where do my taxes go?
The taxes are divided between the county, your school district, the joint vocational school district, the township, the city, mental health and fire districts, and your library.
The auditor’s office provides website information for property owners to see how proposed levies will impact their tax bills as well as allows owners to read a description of each proposed levy.
After searching for a parcel on the auditor’s website directly below the sketch and map, there is a blue highlighted section titled “Levies” that will give an estimate of the change a taxpayer could expect to see on their tax bill for the tax year stated in the ballot language if that levy was passed. Each parcel will only show levy information that is pertinent to each specific property.
Near the bottom of each parcel’s records on the website, taxpayers will find a Tax Distribution section that will give information on the levies, amount of taxes and the percentage of taxes collected and sent to each subdivision. A pie chart as well as numerical totals are listed for each parcel.
For more information
For help navigating the auditor’s website, call the Wayne County Auditor at 330-287-5435.
Since each vote in our community is important- Underwood wants voters to be advised of changes at the polls. The passage and implementation of House Bill 58 has changed some voting laws and requirements for elections in the state of Ohio:
* Photo ID is now required to vote in person.
* Absentee by mail ballots must be requested by Tuesday, April 25 (7 days prior to the election) on a Secretary of State prescribed form.
* All mailed ballots (postmarked by May 1) must reach the Board of Elections no later than 4 days after the election (May 6, 2023).
* All problem ballots must be cured by May 6, 2023.
The Wayne County Board of Elections office will be open extended hours through May 6, 2023.
