What is Issue #34?

Issue #34 is for the Replacement of .95 mills of an existing General Fund – Current Expense Levy. It will cost the owner of a $100,000.00 home approximately $2.77 per month or $16.63 per half. This is not a new tax—currently this levy generates $212,244 and a Replacement of the existing levy will bring in an estimated $228,576 which is increase in revenue of $16,332.00.

Why is Issue #34 needed?

The General Fund is the backbone of all Township funding.  It is the only fund that can support all of the Township departments.  It not only covers the cost of operating our, Cemeteries, Zoning and Administration Offices, but is also used to help support the Parks, Fire Department, Road Department and Sheriff’s Patrol when their individual levies do not generate enough funds to cover their ever-increasing costs.   The General Fund also has the job of covering all of our utility costs and any capital improvements needed to maintain our infrastructure.

As a Township we are very limited in funding streams and are unable to create new revenue through sales taxes like a City or the State is able to. Tax monies, such the Local Government Fund, and Estate Tax that we counted on receiving from the State of Ohio have been

drastically reduced, or eliminated completely over the last fifteen years.  In addition to those losses, the State is projecting that we will have an approximate 20% reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Considering the impact of the virus on everyone in the community, we are only requesting a replacement to bring this levy up to current tax standards. Passage of Issue 34 is vital to the operation of your Township services.

OFFICIAL BALLOT LANGUAGE

34.  COVENTRY TOWNSHIP – Proposed Tax Levy (Replacement) – A replacement of a tax for the benefit of Coventry Township for the purpose of current expenses at a rate not exceeding 0.95 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to 9.5 cents for each one hundred dollars in valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2021, first due in calendar year 2022.

FOR THE LEVY

AGAINST THE LEVY