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Sylvania board approves resolution to place 1% earned-income tax on November ballot after adjusting property-tax credit
Summary
After public opposition at the July 15 meeting, the Sabaney Board of Education approved resolutions to place a 1% earned-income tax measure on the November ballot and adopted a higher millage reduction so homeowners see a $35-per-$100,000 credit; board members set a follow-up meeting to finalize ballot language.
The Sabaney Board of Education voted July 15 to file resolutions sending a proposal for a 1% earned-income tax to the November ballot, after a discussion about how to offset property-tax impacts and brief public comment opposing the measure.
Board members heard two public commenters who said voters had already rejected a previous levy and that a new income tax would place an unfair burden on residents. Beth Wilson, a Sylvania Township resident, said the board was “changing the way they will burden Sylvania residents” by moving from a failed property-tax levy to an earned-income tax and noted the district’s proposal would collect “more than $18,200,000 a year” and leave the $35-per-$100,000 property-tax credit insufficient for many homeowners. Jeff Wilson, another resident, urged the board to cut administrative and fringe spending rather than seek new revenue.
The board discussed technical adjustments with Adam Fulco, who reported the district received the county auditor’s and department of taxation’s certifications needed to set ballot language. Fulco said the district adjusted the calculation for the millage reduction: instead of a 1.0-mill voted reduction, an effective reduction of 1.7 mills is necessary to produce the intended $35 reduction per $100,000 of appraised value. He said that change lowers the district’s total ballot ask to about $18,075,000 — roughly $200,000 less than an earlier figure reported by district staff.
Board members moved and approved the resolutions required to submit the question to the county for ballot preparation. Roll-call votes were taken and the motions passed on the record. The board scheduled a brief follow-up meeting for Wednesday, July 22 at 05:30 to finalize the second resolution and submit the paperwork in time for certification and ballot printing deadlines.
Why it matters: A switch from a property-tax levy to an earned-income tax changes who pays and how much they pay; the board’s adopted millage-reduction calculation is intended to deliver a targeted property-tax credit but, as public commenters noted, may not offset income-based impacts for many residents.
The board made no formal changes to district programs during the meeting; the outcome recorded was the board’s approval to advance the tax measure to the ballot and to pursue final certification with county and state officials.
