JERRY CITY – Elmwood residents will keep the tap running on the school district’s revenue stream
generated by two income taxes.
The approved 0.5- and 0.75-percent renewal levies, which would have expired in 2010 and 2011
respectively, are expected to contribute 14 percent of the district’s annual budget. The 0.5-percent
issue received 1,405 votes (63 percent), and 1,392 ballots (63 percent) were cast for the 0.75-percent
tax.
The majority "yes" votes will allow the district to collect $635,000 from the 0.5-mill levy and
$952,000 from the 0.75-mill issue.
The proposed levies are an extension of the existing revenue stream that began when the 0.5 was first
approved in 1991 and the 0.75 was approved in 1995.
The five-year levies, which fund operation expenses, have survived each time they have come back before
voters.
After results were released Tuesday, Superintendent Steve Pritts thanked district voters for their trust
and for supporting a critical funding source for the school.
"I think it’s just a vote of confidence for what the school district has accomplished and continues
to work towards," he said, adding that the levies would constitute "a huge piece of school’s
budget."
The district treasurer, LuAnn Vanek, had stressed in an addendum to Elmwood’s five-year forecast that the
income taxes traditionally produce a substantial carryover balance for the general fund along with state
funding.
She said renewal of the levies would be "of vital importance" the district’s financial health.
