PREBLE COUNTY —Area voters will have various state and local issues to decide when they go to the polls, or vote early for the Tuesday, Nov. 8, General Election. Issues range from state constitutional amendments to county tax levies for Children Services and Public Health. Several precincts will see questions regarding electric aggregation, public safety levies and more.
State issues
Issue 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment to require courts to consider factors like public safety when setting the amount of bail. This Constitutional Amendment proposed by Joint Resolution of the General Assembly would amend Section 9 of Article I of the Constitution of the State of Ohio would require Ohio courts, when setting the amount of bail, to consider public safety, including the seriousness of the offense, as well as a person’s criminal record, the likelihood a person will return to court, and any other factor the Ohio General Assembly may prescribe and remove the requirement that the procedures for establishing the amount and conditions of bail be determined by the Supreme Court of Ohio. If passed, the amendment will be effective immediately.
Issue 2 is a proposed constitutional amendment which would prohibit local government from allowing non-electors to vote. The proposed amendment would: require that only a citizen of the United States, who is at least 18 years of age and who has been a legal resident and registered voter for at least 30 days, can vote at any state or local election held in this state and prohibit local governments from allowing a person to vote in local elections if they are not legally qualified to vote in state elections. If passed, the amendment will be effective immediately.
Countywide issues
•An additional tax for the benefit of Preble County for the purpose of providing funds for the operation of the General Health District program at a rate not exceeding 0.25 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.025 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023.
•A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Preble County for the purpose of providing fund for supporting Children Services programs, capital improvements, and care and placement of children by Job & Family Services, Children Services Division at a rate not exceeding 0.4 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.04 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023.
Local issues
•An additional tax for the benefit of the Village of Verona, Preble and Montgomery Counties, Ohio, for the purpose of fire protection expenses at a rate not exceeding 4 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.40 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023.
•A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Twin Township, including the Village of West Alexandria, for the purpose of cemetery maintenance at a rate not exceeding 0.32 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.032 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024.
•A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Monroe Township for the purpose of fire protection at a rate not exceeding 0.5 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.05 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023.
•An additional tax for the benefit of the Village of Gratis for the purpose of providing current operating expenses of the police department at a rate not exceeding 4 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.40 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023.
•A renewal of a tax for the benefit of the Village of Camden for the purpose of police protection/operating expenses at a rate not exceeding 6 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.60 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023.
•Continuationof an existing 0.5 percent levy on earnings and income subject to the municipal income tax for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of the Department of Public Safety, which includes the Division of Police, Division of Fire, and Emergency Medical Rescue Service, for the period of Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2025.
•A renewal of a tax for the benefit of the Village of Lewisburg for the purpose of providing and maintaining fire apparatus, mechanical resuscitators, underwater rescue and recovery equipment, or other fire equipment and appliances, buildings and sites therefor, or sources of water supply and materials therefor, for the establishment and maintenance of lines of fire-alarm communications, for the payment of firefighting companies or permanent, part-time, or volunteer firefighting, emergency medical service, administrative, or communications personnel to operate the same, including the payment of any employer contributions required for such personnel under section 145.48 or 742.34 of the Revised Code, for the purchase of ambulance equipment, for the provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services operated by a fire department or firefighting company, or for the payment of other related costs at a rate not exceeding 2.25 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.225 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023.
•The question of: Shall Lanier Township have the authority to aggregate the retail electric loads located in Lanier Township, and for that purpose, enter into service agreements to facilitate for those loads the sale and purchase of electricity, such aggregation to occur automatically except where any person elects to opt out?
•A renewal of a tax for the benefit of the Village of Verona, Preble and Montgomery Counties, Ohio, for the purpose of current operating expenses at a rate not exceeding 1 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.10 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024.
•A renewal of a tax for the benefit of the Village of Verona, Preble and Montgomery Counties, Ohio, for the purpose of road improvement at a rate not exceeding 5 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.50 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024.
•A renewal of a tax for the benefit of the Village of Verona, Preble and Montgomery Counties, Ohio, for the purpose of fire protection and emergency medical services at a rate not exceeding 1 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.10 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024.
•A replacement of a tax for the benefit of Gratis Township (excluding the Village of West Elkton and the Village of Gratis) for the purpose of fire protection and emergency services at a rate not exceeding 1.5 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.15 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023
•A replacement of a tax for the benefit of the Village of Gratis for the purpose of current operating expenses for ambulance service at a rate not exceeding 1 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.10 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023.
•A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Lanier Township (excluding the Village of West Alexandria) for the purpose of fire protection at a rate not exceeding 1 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.10 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024.
•A renewal of a tax for the benefit of the Village of Camden for the purpose of general operating expenses at a rate not exceeding 4 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.40 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023.
•A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Twin Township, excluding the Village of West Alexandria, for the purpose of fire and ambulance services at a rate not exceeding 1 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.10 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024.
•The question of: Shall the Gasper Township have the authority to aggregate the retail electric loads located in the Gasper Township, and for that purpose, enter into service agreements to facilitate for those loads the sale and purchase of electricity, such aggregation to occur automatically except where any person elects to opt out?
•A replacement of 3.8 mills of an existing levy and an increase of 1.2 mills to constitute a tax for the benefit of the Village of College Corner, Preble and Butler Counties, Ohio, for the purpose of current operating expenses at a rate not exceeding 5 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.50 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023.
•A renewal of a tax for the benefit of the Village of College Corner, Preble and Butler Counties, Ohio, for the purpose of providing and maintaining fire apparatus, mechanical resuscitators, underwater rescue and recovery equipment, or other fire equipment and appliances, buildings and sites therefore, or sources of water supply and materials therefor, for the establishment and maintenance of lines of fire-alarm communications, for the payment of firefighting companies or permanent, part-time, or volunteer firefighting, emergency medical service, administrative, or communications personnel to operate the same, including the payment of any employer contributions required for such personnel under section 145.48 or 742.34 of the Revised Code, for the purchase of ambulance equipment, for the provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services operated by a fire department or firefighting company, or for the payment of other related costs at a rate not exceeding 1.8 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.18 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024.
•A levy renewing an existing levy imposed by the Tri-County North Local School District for the purpose of providing for the emergency requirements of the school district in the sum of $618,000 per year, and a levy of taxes to be made outside of the 10-mill limitation estimated by the county auditor to average 4.3 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.43 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a period of 10 years, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024?
•A replacement of a tax for the benefit of the Northwest Fire and Ambulance District for the purpose of providing and maintaining fire apparatus, appliances, and buildings, to purchase ambulance equipment, and for current expenses at a rate not exceeding 0.9 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.09 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023.
•A replacement of a tax for the benefit of the Village of Gratis for the purpose of current operating expenses for ambulance service at a rate not exceeding 1 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.10 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023.
•In the matter of the zoning application. Section 16, Jefferson Twp., Preble County, Ohio, an amendment to the Zoning Resolution reclassifying approximately 17.5 and 22.8 acres, exclusive of road right-of-way, if any, located east of 6336 Paul McKee Rd., from Agricultural to Special Use Provision. Shall the zoning amendment as adopted by the Board of Preble County Commissioners be approved?
