OTTOVILLE — School district residents will see a 0.75-percent Continuous Income Tax on the ballot in November.
Ottoville Local Schools Board of Education agreed to pursue the income tax at Monday’s meeting after reviewing the district’s 5-year forecast with a projected ending cash balance of a negative $1,605,147 on June 30, 2012.
“We already know that we will not be getting an increase in state funding. If anything, it will be less. We must continue to offer electives to students to stay competitive and we have cut staff to the core and gone down to two administrators,” Superintendent/Elementary Principal Scott Mangas said Monday. “An income tax is a more fair tax for everybody.”
Board member Mary Jo Horstman concurred.
“There is no question we need to bring in more money. We are all in agreement that it needs to be an income tax,” she said.
Ottoville is the only school in Putnam County without an income tax on the books. The district has not received new operating money since 1988.
The income tax, if passed, will generate approximately $492,000 per year. With school funding uncertain, the district could lose up to $400,000 per year in “held-harmless” funding put in place while tangible personal property taxes are phased out in 2009. The receipts will be gone in 2010.
Mangas also noted that the district has the lowest per-pupil spending in the county, one of the most experienced staff and still enjoys an excellent Report Card from the state.
Board member Mark Honigford noted that the district will continue to look at cost-cutting measures. An elementary position will be cut at the end of the 2008-09 school year in response to declining enrollment.
Treasurer Bob Weber said an income tax is the best way for the district to seek new money.
“An income tax is better in a couple different ways,” Weber explained. “It has growth potential because it is based on income which fluctuates and it does not affect our state funding like a levy would. However, the district will not see any of the money collected for about 18 months — if it is passed.”
The first reading of the resolution for the income tax could be done at the June meeting and needs to be presented to the county and state auditors in August to be eligible for the November ballot.
School lunch prices will increase for the next school year. Board members approved the cost of $1.75 per lunch for students in grades K-5 when bought in groups of five; $2 per lunch for students in grades 6-12 in groups of five; all single lunches will be $2.25; and adult lunches will be $2.50. Students are encouraged to purchase lunch tickets in groups of five to reduce paperwork and labor costs to the school.
In other business, the board:
• Acknowledged and accepted a $1,000 donation from Michael Miller and a $4,000 donation from Ruth and Emmett Ratterman for the Alex and Jennie Miller Memorial Scholarship Fund;
• Approved Shawn and Dave Roney, Joe Hohlbein, Jerome Bendele, Ralph Luersman, Carl Beining and Gene Knippen as van drivers for the purpose of towing the band trailer to parades, contests and shows for the upcoming school year;
•  Continued membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for the 2008-09 school year;
• Approved all head coaches to use school facilities for their sports camps or clinics during the spring/summer with the stipulation that all receipts and expenditures be processed through the treasurer’s office;
• Approved the constitution of the Northwest Ohio Area Computer Service Cooperative that provides the district with its technology support;
• Issued Diane Ricker a 1-year limited contract for the pre-school handicapped bus driver route;
• Issued 1-year supplemental contracts to Kathy Heitmeyer and Ruth Wannemacher at $750 each for the 2008-09 school year for additional work associated with EMIS reporting;
• Approved Pamela Odenweller to use the school facilities for a dance recital on May 22, 30, 31 and June 1;
• Approved Vorst Paving of Cloverdale to seal and stripe existing school parking lots. Vorst was $6,000 cheaper than the two other bidders, PMC Paving Maintenance Co. from Tiffin and Freisthler Paving from Sidney; and
• Approved Kyle Kroeger as a student worker on an as-needed basis this summer.
The next meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. June 16 at the high school.