Countywide Levy Aimed at Generating $210 Million: What Voters Need to Know

Here's what we know:

The Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities wants to pass Issue 1, a 3.3-mill, 10-year renewal levy aimed at generating $21 million per year, according to SCBDD Communications Director Lisa Parramore.

If passed, the levy would neither raise nor lower taxes; rather, business and homeowners would continue to pay roughly $98 per year for every $100,000 in property valuation.

In all, the levy would raise about $210 million. The revenue would pay for "services such as job training, job placement, support services, and education for more than 3,300 (developmentally disabled) Stark County residents," said Parramore. 

Why voters are confused:

The Stark County Board of Elections language describes Issue 1 as “a renewal of a 1.9-mill levy and an increase of 1.4 mills…” leading some voters to wonder whether their taxes will increase.

Parramore explained Issue 1 would replace two levies that are running concurrently: a 1.9-mill levy set to expire at the end of 2013, and a 1.4-mill levy set to expire at the end of 2014. 

To eliminate the overlap, the Board has passed a resolution to stop collecting on the 1.4-mill levy if Issue 1 is passed. 

Arguments for passage:

The levies Issue 1 would replace make up about 46 percent of the Board's annual budget; and, even if the levy passes, SCBDD would realize $7.2 million in losses by 2015 due to state funding cuts and falling property values, making levy approval that much more important, said Superintendent Bill Green. 

To avoid shifting the burden to taxpayers, Green said the Board has introduced a 3-year strategic plan to absorb the seven-figure losses.

Further information on Issue 1 can be found in the attached PDFs. 

Hey North Canton voters: Are you for or against Issue 1? Offer your input in the comments section below.