Latest news with #levy
CTV News
12 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
City votes to extend downtown tax levy, Oilers event-park not guaranteed
Public hearings still underway as Edmontonians give city council their opinions on supporting the Oilers Event Park using a levy. Jeremy Thompson reports.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
November ballot has two Bellingham school levies. Here's what they would fund
Bellingham voters will likely see two levies to support the Bellingham Public Schools District on the upcoming November ballot. The first is a three-year supplemental operations levy meant to support ongoing operational needs and help stabilize the district's budget amid an estimated $11.4 million deficit. If approved, it would raise about $4 million additional dollars each year from taxpayers on top of the already-voter-approved Operations Levy. 'That's the main levy that most districts run, and it really helps run your district,' Superintendent Greg Baker said in an interview with The Herald. 'It helps mainly with staffing. Over 90% of our district's budget is for staffing.' Washington's Legislature places a cap on the amount of funding districts can bring in through such operations levies. That lid was adjusted during the most recent legislative session to allow districts to request additional funding from voters. Baker told The Herald the supplemental levy would raise enough to pay for the district's utilities and insurance costs, which are underfunded by the state by about $3 million each year. It could also help fund special education, which is underfunded by about $7 million each year. 'It's an adjustment, but it will make a difference. It will help us balance our budget for the next few years,' Baker said. Position cuts, pay freezes hit Bellingham schools amid budget shortfall Feds formally launch investigation into OSPI over gender-inclusive schools law Amid federal education cuts, what's at stake for Washington's public schools? The second levy is a six-year facilities maintenance levy focused on raising funds to help maintain the district's existing facilities. 'Our community has invested in outstanding facilities, and we want to maintain them. If you can keep them in good shape, they last longer,' Baker told The Herald. The facilities levy would fund things like HVAC system maintenance, roof replacements, playground replacements, new furniture and upgraded gym flooring. 'More and more districts are running this type of levy that's focused on maintaining our facilities, and it's just a smart move,' Baker said. Bellingham Public Schools has previously pulled funding from the operating budget or from a voter-approved bond to pay for necessary maintenance. Baker said running this kind of levy helps ensure maintenance can be done effectively and promptly without pulling funding from other projects or services. There's also a greater likelihood the measure will pass with voters because levies only need 50% of the vote to pass, while bonds require at least 60% approval. 'Then if you go out for a bond and it doesn't pass, you haven't put your current buildings at risk,' Baker said. 'There are lots of examples around the state of districts that can't keep their facilities maintained, and we don't want that to happen here.' The Bellingham community has a consistent track record of approving bonds and levies proposed by Bellingham Public Schools. Since 1992, the community has approved eight bond elections, six technology levies, 12 educational programs & operations levies and one transportation vehicle levy. 'The state doesn't fund schools fully, and so it's up to local communities,' Baker said. 'Our community takes great pride in its schools. We have an outstanding school district.'
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jefferson hopes to renew two levies
JEFFERSON — Village council voted to move forward with the renewal of two existing levies to help provide services to residents. The resolutions request the Ashtabula County Auditor certify the total current tax valuation and amount of revenue that would be generated for a 1.55-mill, five-year street light levy and a one-mill, five-year fire levy, to be placed on the November ballot. Council also approved a resolution to establish a K-9 fund to be used for all donations and revenues received for the upkeep and support of the dog. They also approved the hiring of Jeromey Cummins to a full-time detective/patrolman position. Jefferson Village Manager Steve Murphy said he was able to attend a local government conference early this month in Washington D.C. He said he was able to let state and federal officials know where the village is, and urge them to come visit. He said one of the topics of conversation was House Bill 335, which would eliminate property tax inside millage. Murphy said the proposal would cost the village $250,000-$300,000 a year.
Irish Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Levy on streaming platforms could raise about €20 million per year for sector
A levy on streaming platforms in Ireland, which could raise about €20 million per year for public service content, would be an 'obvious quick fix' for the sector, an Oireachtas committee has heard. New proposed broadcasting legislation initially permitted Coimisiún na Meán to impose such a levy. However, an amendment saw an 'added layer of protection for the Irish consumer' from Minister for Media Patrick O' Donovan which would ensure any levy would require ministerial approval. Roderick Flynn of the DCU Institute of Future Media, Democracy and Society told Oireachtas media committee members that a levy of 3 per cent would equate to about €20 million per year in funding for public content and about 30 cent per month on a standard Netflix subscription. READ MORE 'This doesn't seem like an onerous increase for what is, after all, a discretionary household budgetary expenditure,' he said. Given the competitive streaming market in Ireland, he said companies would have a 'strong incentive' to absorb the cost internally. 'Why would you not want €20 million to be thrown specifically at public service content production?' he said. The issue was raised in the context of 'inadequate' funding proposed under the legislation which seeks to convert an existing broadcasting fund to a 'platform-neutral' media fund. Several representatives of the sector highlighted concerns over the level of funding and the way in which it has been allocated to date, with radio stations and papers finding themselves ineligible due to the requirement for 'additionality'. This sees a requirement for a radio station or paper being awarded funding for services, such as court reporting, not already being provided. The allocation of 7 per cent of the net licence fee receipts to the fund, meanwhile, is 'inadequate, especially given the wider scope of eligible applicants,' said Sammi Bourke, chair of Newsbrands Ireland, the representative body for national newspapers. The issue of funding was raised amid widespread difficulties in the sector, notably the emergence of AI and use of content by social media platforms without compensation. Ms Bourke told TDs and senators that news publishers now face 'existential challenges due to the widespread appropriation of our journalism by major tech and AI companies'. 'Our content is being harvested without consent or compensation, undermining the commercial viability of journalism and threatening the public's access to reliable information,' she said. Deirdre Veldon, vice chair of Newsbrands Ireland and managing director of The Irish Times Group, said the companies have 'the best of both worlds' noting that 87 per cent of the advertising revenue previously taken in by the media market is now with big tech. 'What I would prefer to see is them discharging their responsibilities in relation to offering proper compensation to publishers and broadcasters for use of their content,' she said. Michael Kelly, chief executive of the IBI, said the advertising landscape in Ireland has undergone 'major disruption' with tech giants and social media platforms now extracting approximately €1 billion in advertising revenue from the market each year. This is in contrast to about €165 million being taken in by RTÉ radio and the independent radio sector, he said. Fine Gael TD Brian Brennan noted cost increases facing the sector and a loss in ad revenue, saying: 'I honestly fear for the future of the people in this room, of who you're representing, unless something strong is done. You simply have to get a higher percentage of the pot or else it is not commercially feasible to continue to do what you're doing.'
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State proposal to make it harder to pass property tax levies worries Stark County leaders
Stark County leaders say a state proposal to make it more difficult to pass local property tax levies could hurt essential services. The legislation by Reps. David Thomas, R-Jefferson, and Angie King, R-Celina, would raise the threshold for passing levies for schools, libraries, parks and other services to 60% rather than a simple majority. Some lawmakers say it would ensure levies have the full support of the community at a time when many homeowners are being hit with big property tax increases. The Canton Repository examined election results from November 2022 through May 2025 in Stark County. The newspaper found there were a total of 117 tax issues on the ballot, with 93 of those passing with a simple majority. But 35 of the 93 issues would have failed if a 60% majority were required. When the Stark Library levy passed in 2019, it was approved with just over 51% approval. "If that provision had been effect in 2019 when we were on the ballot, it would not have passed," said Mary Ellen Icaza, Stark Library CEO and executive director. "We would not be able to provide the services that we are now providing to our community, and there would be significant, significant impacts." The eight-year levy is still active and represents 58% of the library system's funding. Icaza said property tax levies are the most lucrative way for the library system to raise funds. "The proposal, as it stands with the 60% required passage, I think it undermines the principle of majority rule in Ohio," she said. "It certainly would make it more difficult to pass any library levies." The Perry Township Fire Department passed a 4.9-mill replacement levy in November. According to official election results, the levy had 50.15% approval and passed by just 43 votes. Perry Township Fire Chief Larry Sedlock said the department relies on the property tax levy for the vast majority of operations. "We are a township; we rely heavily on property taxes," he said. While the idea of granting property tax relief sounds appealing, Sedlock said he does not see how the department could operate without those funds. "The money has got to come from someplace," he said. "I'm sure property owners such as myself would enjoy that relief, but I'm just not sure how they're going to go about it." Kevin Tobin, retiring superintendent of Lake Local Schools, said the proposal to raise the threshold is the latest in a series of attacks on public education in Ohio. "The simple majority rules today, and I don't understand why they want to go away from that," he said. "We're already under siege. It's just another weaponization against public education." 'Roller coaster': Stark County school districts facing uncertainty about state funding Public schools are dependent on property tax revenue. Tobin said it's put the burden on homeowners. "It is disheartening to know that we continue to just strap the backs of our property owners," he said. "The funding model is broken." But right now, there aren't any sufficient alternatives to levies, Tobin said. "Every district's got booster clubs, every district has academic boosters, every district is trying to raise money," he said. "Everybody's looking for alternative revenue streams to enhance our student experiences, because our income that we're getting from the state is not enough to do the things we do." Lake Local Schools passed a five-year, 9.5-mill levy in March 2024 after two previous attempts failed. It had 54% approval. "It took us three times to pass a levy that literally does not generate enough funds to do all that we would like to do for our children," Tobin said, "and that's frustrating." Tobin has been through the difficult process of constantly asking voters for new levies. Increasing the threshold would just make it harder, he said. "It is very difficult to go through a levy cycle and keep everybody positive and moving in the right direction," he said. "It is one of the more difficult things that you are asked to do as an educational leader." In the most recent election on May 6, all of the tax issues that were approved in Stark County passed with over 60% of the vote. The tax issues included a countywide replacement levy for Stark County Children Services, which passed with 62% approval and a Louisville Library District renewal levy, which passed with just over 60% of the vote. That was not the case for the Nov. 5 general election. There was a mixed bag of outcomes for tax issues in that election. Ten issues passed with under 60% approval, including a Lawrence Township police levy, which passed with over 56% approval, and the Perry Township fire levy. Here's how many issues would've been impacted from the last three years if the threshold to pass was 60%: May 2025 election: Two issues that were approved would have failed. November 2024: Ten approved issues wouldn't have passed. March 2024: Four approved issues wouldn't have passed. November 2023: Twelve approved issues wouldn't have passed. May 2023: Four approved issues wouldn't have passed. November 2022: Three approved issues wouldn't have passed. Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@ Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark leaders weigh in on proposed property tax levy changes
