Voters in the Green Local School District killed an income and property tax levy to raise $1 million for the district. The final vote was 442 in favor of the levy and 1,039 against.

Green School Board member Thom Davis said this would have been the first new levy passed since 1988.

The property tax portion of the levy equates to 0.95 mil, Davis said, and would have only raised property taxes between $20 and $35 for most local property owners. He estimates a house valued at $80,000 would have paid an additional $26 per year on property taxes. The money collected from the increased property taxes would have been used for school maintenance and renovation only. The money would also have gone to adding new technologies.

The income tax portion would have raised income taxes by one-percent on earned income only. Davis explains that taxes will not be raised one-penny on anyone not earning a regular paycheck — such as elderly residents living on a fixed-income. The income tax money collected would have been used for general operation and salaries.

"I'd like to thank the people that did come out to support the issue. We'll just have to re-gather around the five-year forecast and see what will have to be done to make sure the district can remain financially sound," Davis said.

The school board closed its primary school because of its poor condition. All of the students were moved to the other school building where they had to squeeze in with existing students. The district has shuffled its classrooms and added modular units for added classroom space. Davis said the district will ask the Ohio School Facilities Commission for assistance constructing a new school building.

RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 235, or rottney@heartlandpublications.com.