New Jackson BOE member proposes countywide sales tax

[obie7661]

http://www.indeonline.com/index.php?ID=23207&r=2&Category=1

[Obie Wan]

Here's the crux of the biscuit:

"The idea becomes even more attractive considering the Belden Village retail district and the draw that it has on shoppers from outside the township, he said. A sales tax for education purposes would spread the burden beyond the township."

Although the article doesn't say so explicitly, it certainly implies that the tax revenue will be given to the school district in which it was collected. In other words, all the taxes from Belden will go to Jackson schools. Let's get to the point: that would mean that the rest of the county is funding Jackson's schools at the expense of their own.

[Perry74]

Having a friend, who lives in Medina County here is how their county sales tax works for their schools. The BOE's of the school districts in Medina County met and laid out their game plan. They then met with a County Commissioners and pitched it to them. The majority of voters in Medina County wanted to support the schools, but were tired of property taxes, like we all are. The point that made it pass was that the money would be divided by the size of the school system. Also, this sales tax revenue was in lieu of bond money and or bond levies, which meant it could only be used for capital improvements, not for salaries or general fund purposes.

They set up a separate group to oversee the collection and distribution of the money. This 5 person oversight committee does not get paid to do this. Every district gets its share every year whether they use it or not. Some schools are "banking" the money for future use. It's theirs no matter. My friend tells me that the fairest way was how the divided the sales tax. By the size of the school district. He also again was happy that the money can only be used for capital improvements.

A bonus in the whole thing was districts that already had bond money coming in from a previous Levy let them expire, meaning the folks property taxes were reduced. Some districts that had a bond levy that was to continue for another 3 years, rescinded it by the first collection of the new sales tax.
Now the Stark County Commissioners would have to agree to this and have it put on the ballot, but I can't imagine they wouldn't after the voters see the upside to this type of sales tax. Having a fair way of distributing the money and in some cases your property taxes reduced is a no brain-er. I think the court of public opinion would convince the commissioners. Stark has way more avenues for income than does Medina County. Medina & Wadsworth have most of the retail in the county, but had no problems with how the revenue was split up. After all it was, according to their BOE and County Commissioners, the only fair way.

I will contact him and see just what the sales tax brings in and what the % was they passed.

I think it's something that's worth looking into.

[Homer]

I’d be open to a countywide sales tax for Stark County schools as long as certain criteria is met but I have to ask does Stark County Schools really need a sales tax for capital improvements? The new school board member from Jackson wants the sales tax to be available to be spent for General Fund expenses and there is no logical reason why to oppose the proposition. Many Stark County School Districts all ready have new buildings but they’re left with the age-old problem of any business, employees’ salaries. Why not leave it up to each individual school district in Stark County to decide how the money is spent.


What is fair? Jackson Local will demand what's theirs since the money pit of Belden Village is in their backyard. Someone will get upset. Two to three communities will threaten annexation and as usual nothing will get done. When it comes down to money and land Stark County's fiefdoms don't get along! So again, what’s fair? Medina County decided to divide the sales tax by the size of each school system but what does that mean? They divided it by each school district’s square miles, number of households in each school district or student body size? If the new sales tax is divided by the size of the student body and it’s worth it I can only imagine the cheaters of our fair county would begin to recruit. After all, grabbing the advantage from our neighbor is a Stark County tradition.


It would appear that I have a thorn in my side or a rash that never quite seems to go away when it comes to the way Stark County handles her business. In the age of the global economy there is no reason why Stark County Schools couldn’t put a little effort into punting “i” and embracing a team mentality moving the whole damn county forward. We have school districts in Stark County that are arguably the best in Ohio and a few that are darn near the bottom of the barrel. WE are no stronger than OUR weakest link!

[DaveDawg]

Yes Yes Yes!!!!

[Perry74]

Homer, to clarify, the tax money was divided on enrollment figures. Medina County felt that capital improvements was their biggest need, but that doesn't mean the money could not be earmarked for general fund purposes. It all depends on what's decided. There isn't a perfect system, but this one has in my opinion a lot of potential.

[TigerCoach]

Having a friend, who lives in Medina County here is how their county sales tax works for their schools. The BOE's of the school districts in Medina County met and laid out their game plan. They then met with a County Commissioners and pitched it to them. The majority of voters in Medina County wanted to support the schools, but were tired of property taxes, like we all are. The point that made it pass was that the money would be divided by the size of the school system. Also, this sales tax revenue was in lieu of bond money and or bond levies, which meant it could only be used for capital improvements, not for salaries or general fund purposes.

They set up a separate group to oversee the collection and distribution of the money. This 5 person oversight committee does not get paid to do this. Every district gets its share every year whether they use it or not. Some schools are "banking" the money for future use. It's theirs no matter. My friend tells me that the fairest way was how the divided the sales tax. By the size of the school district. He also again was happy that the money can only be used for capital improvements.

A bonus in the whole thing was districts that already had bond money coming in from a previous Levy let them expire, meaning the folks property taxes were reduced. Some districts that had a bond levy that was to continue for another 3 years, rescinded it by the first collection of the new sales tax.
Now the Stark County Commissioners would have to agree to this and have it put on the ballot, but I can't imagine they wouldn't after the voters see the upside to this type of sales tax. Having a fair way of distributing the money and in some cases your property taxes reduced is a no brain-er. I think the court of public opinion would convince the commissioners. Stark has way more avenues for income than does Medina County. Medina & Wadsworth have most of the retail in the county, but had no problems with how the revenue was split up. After all it was, according to their BOE and County Commissioners, the only fair way.

I will contact him and see just what the sales tax brings in and what the % was they passed.

I think it's something that's worth looking into.

I live in Medina County and my neighbor and friend is the Wadsworth Schools Treasurer. This is a good description of our sales tax and I know many, many people who like the concept. It also allowed the Wadsworth Schools to not have to re-new an operating levy, which will reduce our propert taxes slightly.

[massillon catholic]

I live in Medina County and my neighbor and friend is the Wadsworth Schools Treasurer. This is a good description of our sales tax and I know many, many people who like the concept. It also allowed the Wadsworth Schools to not have to re-new an operating levy, which will reduce our propert taxes slightly.


IMO, they need to eliminate the property tax altogether and go strictly with a sales tax.