Rift Deepens Between Voters & Little Miami Schools

This Tuesday voters in Warren County's Little Miami school district are not only deciding on the largest proposed school tax hike in the district's history - a 16.95-mill operating levy - but also whether Ohio education officials will control much of the district should the property tax be voted down. One taxpayer is sick and tired of it.

“Little Miami Schools, located in Eastern Warren County, Ohio is risking alienation of the very people who fund the school system through their property tax dollars. It may be too late! By asking the residents of the school district to vote for or against the levy for the 4th time in a little over a year is over the top. Just in November 2009, the will of the residents was made clearly known as they decidedly voted down the levy. By asking them to vote again in February of this year, the district is showing a profound lack of respect for those who already pay hefty amounts of money to Little Miami Schools through current levels of taxation. Now they are asking for a whopping 16 million, which will add over $500/year per $100,000 house/property valuation.

We are being asked to shoulder the responsibility for poor financial decisions made in the past. It’s not fair, especially in lean economic times, to ask this of us. I guess the district is hoping that the odd voting time will catch people off guard, so they can squeak through the passage of this onerous levy. I urge all of my fellow residents to get out and vote on February 2nd and defeat this levy…….again! Alienation is simply the natural result when government views the people as an ATM that can be tapped over and over again.”

--Ken Jones, resident of Harlan Twp, Warren County, Ohio

2010-02-03 UPDATE 16.95 mil operating levy fails 55% to 45%. Vote for another, possibly larger levy, is planned for May 4.

Jennifer Miller & Arnie Engel seek re-election

COASTers encouraged to help them with money, time

Loyal COASTers Jennifer Miller of the Mason City Board of Education and Arnie Engel of the Fairfield City Board of Education are each seeking re-election this November. Both have given of themselves selflessly and repeatedly in COAST activities. It’s time for COASTers to recriprocate generously.

The web sites and contact information of these two fine candidates are below. COAST will be arranging volunteer weekends to help each of these two fine candidates. Please plan on volunteering and helping them both.

Jennifer Miller for Mason Board of Education
4579 Angeline Lane
Mason, Ohio 45040
ElectJenniferMiller.Com

Arnold Engel for Fairfield City School Board
6237 Firestone Drive
Fairfield, Ohio 45014
TheTaxpayersVoice.Net

May School Levies Crash and Burn

Voters in the region spoke loudly and clearly on election day, rejecting five of eight levies on the ballot. Read the rundown here. COAST thinks that is three too few.

Owners Slammed by Huge Property Tax Bills

Rising rate and assessments combine for double whammy.
Property owners throughout southwest Ohio are experiencing sticker shock upon opening their latest property tax bills. The dramatic increase in property tax bills is attributable to both an increase in property valuations and an increase in tax rates. A chart showing the increase in commercial property tax rates in the Cincinnati Public School District is below.

This graph shows the growth in commercial/industrial property tax rates in Hamilton County/Cincinnati Public School District over 25 years, from a rate of 49 mills to more than 76 today. If these trends hold for the coming 25 years, our children will pay tax rates of more than 92 mills in 2034.

Overall, Hamilton County experienced an increase in property values for both residential and commercial property. Some areas experienced dramatic increases. For example, Auditor assessments in Oakley increased by 16 to 17 percent. At the same time, many areas of the County experienced significant increases in rates of taxation. Property tax rates in the Cincinnati Public School District went up a total of 14%, despite significantly reduced enrollment. This is due to the massive CPS tax increase that passed in March.

The combined effect of these two factors meant, for example, that many Oakley property owners experienced increases of more than 30% from their prior tax bills.

COAST attorneys are hosting a series of property tax reduction seminars in January and February. Details are here.

COASTer leads defeat of Fairfield School Levy

Committed COASTer Arnie Engel, a member of the Fairfield Board of Education, led forces opposed to the Fairfield School Levy on the November ballot, a five-year 2-mill permanent improvement levy. Opponents knocked down the levy by 52% of the vote on election day. The tax would have generated an estimated $2.7 million. Engel contends the school district wastes money, primarily on inflated teacher salaries. Engel's efforts were so successful, the Board has also decided not to pursue a tax increase on the February 2009 ballot. Great work, Arnie!