Here’s a look at local ballot issues and charter amendments for the Nov. 4 general election that were submitted to the Summit County Board of Elections by the Aug. 6 deadline:
School levies in Cuyahoga Falls, Tallmadge, Springfield
Voters in Cuyahoga Falls will be asked to renew a 7.5-mills tax for the schools to pay current expenses.
Tallmadge voters will see a proposed renewal of a 5.7-mills tax for the schools to use in paying current expenses.
Springfield Local Schools is putting two renewals on the ballot. The first is outside the ten-mill limitation, and meant to gather $1.5 million in emergency funds to the district. The second is a 1.8-mills tax that the county fiscal officer estimates will collect $302,430 annually to be used for general permanent improvements in the district.
Other levies to be decided across Summit County
Countywide, voters will be asked to renew and increase by 0.5-mill a 2.95-mill tax for the benefit of the County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADM) Board.
Macedonia is asking voters to renew a tax for paying current city expenses.
New Franklin voters will decide whether to renew an expiring 5.75-mills tax for its fire department.
Norton is seeking renewal of a 5.6-mill tax, and 3-mill increase, for fire department and emergency medical services.
Peninsula is asking voters to consider renewing a 3-mill tax for road improvements.
Bath Township’s voters will decide on renewing a 7-mill tax with a 0.5-mill increase ship for police services.
Coventry Township voters will have a 0.95-mill replacement levy before them that will allow the township to pay current expenses.
Voters in Northfield Center will be asked to renew a 1.4-mills tax for the general construction,reconstruction, resurfacing and repair of its roads and bridges..
In Springfield Township, voters will weigh an additional 1.5-mills tax for police and emergency medical services.
What charter amendments will be on the ballot?
Barberton has 19 proposed charter amendments that voters will have to decide on, including one that would replace partisan elections with non-partisan elections, and others that authorize revisions to several departmental directors’ qualifications and responsibilities.
Hudson is seeking to place eight charter amendments before voters, but City Councilman Skylar Sutton said on his Facebook page that the council’s passage of the slate was one vote shy of the five required by city charter to advance emergency legislation. As such, the amendments could be ruled ineligible for the ballot by the Summit County Board of Elections. One amendment proposes changing city council members’ salary to meet the state’s minimum retirement credit threshold. Another asks whether or not to add a section to the city charter that would establish the Military and Veteran’s Commission.
In Cuyahoga Falls, there are three proposed amendments on the ballot. One changes the terms for council ward seats from two to four years. Another revises how council vacancies are filled, while the third revises how mayoral vacancies are filled.
There’s one charter amendment that voters will see countywide. It proposes limiting taxation pursuant to Ohio Law and the Ohio Constitution; and placing a limitation on unvoted property taxes under the Charter to 2.2 mills and prohibit the increase of property taxes greater than 3% annually in aggregate.
Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Levies, other measures filed for Nov. 4 election in Summit County