Solon Schools Hoping To Keep Income With November Levy

Officials at Solon City Schools are hoping voters will pass a 0.8 mill levy in November to "recapture" money taxed to the district in the past.

The district is asking residents to essentially renew a tax that was paying off a bond so that it can keep up with current operating expenses and permanent improvements.

"Rather than letting it lapse and coming back with a larger one, this will sustain us for a longer time," Superintendent Joe Regano said at a school board meeting last week.

Originally, the district believed this would not cost homeowners any extra in taxes, but because of changes to the state budget, taxpayers will now be responsible for a portion the state once paid, according to Treasurer Tim Pickana.

For example, the owner of a $100,000 home in Solon will pay $3.50 more each year, totaling around $28.

"Knowing what the income will be makes it much easier to phase in any projects in the future," President Margo Morrow said, emphasizing that this levy isn't any new money.  

Money going into the permanent improvement funds would help new security measures the district is hoping to add in the future.

The levy will be split evenly into both operating and permanent improvement funds.