2014 primary election
COSHOCTON – There are two big levies facing the residents of Coshocton County. City residents must decide whether or not to pass a levy to help with the repair of streets, and the whole county has the opportunity to help the Coshocton County Career Center make needed repairs if they vote yes for the Joint Vocational School District levy. Both levies failed when put before voters in November 2013.
Coshocton County Joint Vocational School District, 1 mill
– Why did you decide to put this levy back on the ballot? We train our area youth to become productive, contributing workers and leaders which helps with our community’s economic growth and development. We have never requested permanent improvement funds until now and our doors have been open for over 35 years – a great record for a school district. We need to upgrade our career-tech labs and equipment to keep our students on the cutting edge in terms of training and skill development. Many building repairs and updates are needed NOW including the replacement of our roof and a boiler. We need to ensure the safety of our students by upgrading our transportation. Our over-used and aging buses and van need to be replaced. Security issues must be addressed throughout the building.
– How did failure of it in November impact the school? We have always watched expenditures carefully and have been reducing budgets for all instructional areas and maintenance and repair as well. We have had to make some temporary fixes of equipment and key utilities. Temporary fixes are just that and major repairs and replacement will be inevitable.
– What will the levy cost a property owner with a $50,000 value property and $100,000 value property? This is a five-year, 1 mill, permanent improvement levy. Taxpayers will pay $17.50 per year on a $50,000 property for only five years and those with property valued at $100,000 would be $35 per year. That would be the cost of one extra large pizza or two extra large pizzas per year! We hope taxpayers understand this is a five-year levy.
– How many years is the levy for? Five years.
– What will funds from the levy be used for? We need to upgrade our career-tech labs and equipment to keep our students on the cutting edge in terms of training and skill development. Many building repairs and updates are needed NOW including the replacement of our roof and a boiler. We need to ensure the safety of our students by upgrading our transportation. Our over-used and aging buses and van need to be replaced. Security issues must be addressed throughout the building.
– What happens if this levy doesn’t pass? We certainly understand that property taxes are sensitive issues with folks. We would not ask our supporters for help if we absolutely did not need it. Our students and community benefit from career-tech education and we want to continue the tradition of providing quality training for our youth. We have actually served multiple generations of students since our doors opened in 1978 and our placement and success rates are high. Our students repair our citizens’ cars, own salons, work in our hospital and care centers, build homes, provide food service, work as welders, safety personnel, early childhood instructors and assistants, provide IT support and computer repair and many more services. If this levy does not pass, we will need to continue to decrease program and maintenance budgets and plan for the future. That would have to include another ballot attempt. We need our community’s help and support.
Editor’s note: Answers to these questions were provided by Deborah Kapp-Salupo, superintendent for the Coshocton County JVSD.
City of Coshocton, 2.4 mills
– Why did you decide to put this levy back on the ballot? Since the beginning of the recession in 2008, we have only been able to do the bare minimum of street maintenance with the funds we receive.We are seeing the results of not being able to keep up, with not only the amount of potholes but also whole sections of streets falling apart.
– How did failure of it in November impact the city? It has delayed a whole year being able to afford and implement a plan. Once a levy is passed, it cannot begin in that year. This levy will be retroactive to January 2014, but not distributed till January 2015.
– What will it cost a property owner with a $50,000 value property and $100,000 value property? It will cost $10 per month for a property with assessed value of $50,000, $20 per month for a $100,000 property.
– How many years is it for? It is a five year levy.
– What will the funds be used for? That is outlined in the language on the ballot. It is to be used for repair and maintenance of the roads, paying loans that were obtained for the repairs done previously as well as for the required matching funds.
– What happens if this levy doesn’t pass? The city will continue to use the dollars given to us and spread them as we have in the past. The streets will continue to deteriorate and fall further behind maintenance and paving programs.
Editor’s note: Answers to these questions were provided by John Laaper, street levy committee member
Category: Education, Government
