BOWLING GREEN, Ohio —
Bowling Green residents will see an income tax levy on the November ballot.
Ted Haselman, Bowling Green City Schools, said this is the first time in 14 years the district has had to ask for operating funds.
"To go to 14 years without an increase in operating dollars from our community is a very, very long time," he said. "But we will not be able to continue to provide the great services we do without additional revenue from our community."
The proposed 0.75% income tax increase is in addition to the existing 0.5% income tax. The BGCS Board of Education finalized the decision for the levy at a meeting on Tuesday night.
"It will be used for instructional supplies, for technology," Haselman said. "It will put fuel in our buses. It will also allow us to turn the lights on and heat our buildings and make sure that our buildings are warm and safe. As well as pay for staff."
Haselman said after reviewing forecasts, the school district needed to ask voters for the levy so operations could remain. He said with expenditures increasing, he believes 14 years is a long time to go without asking for additional dollars.
Every member of the board of education voted in favor of the levy, except Peggy Thompson. She said she thinks the board should have waited longer before asking taxpayers for their money.
"My point of view is that it's too soon to be asking for more money when we just passed the levy for the new building," Thompson said. "And things are tight right now. Real estate taxes have increased and a lot of people are concerned about making ends meet without additional taxes right now."
Bowling Green resident Lucy Long said she wouldn't mind paying the additional income tax to help invest in the future.
"I don't mind paying more for education at all," Long said. "I feel like money going into education at this point means that there's less money going into jails later on. There's less money going into paying for unemployment."
This levy comes one year after BGCS passed a levy last November to build a new high school. The high school cost less than expected, but those funds cannot be used to help with operations, according to Haselman.
Haselman said he knows people don't like paying taxes, but he said the levy will help keep provide great education to children.
"We don't build widgets," Haselman said. "We don't sell items that we've manufactured. We educate kids."