Early voting for the fall election begins in less than a month, and the United Way of Licking County recently held a forum to help voters understand more about tax issues on the ballot.
The two that affect the most people in Licking County are a countrywide request for renewal of a 1-mill, 10-year levy for community addiction and mental health services, and the City of Newark is asking voters to approve a 0.5% increase in the income tax operation and maintenance of municipal services.
The last day to register to vote is Oct. 6. Early voting begins on Oct. 7 at the Licking County Board of Elections office, 20 S. 2nd St., and the general election will be on Nov. 4.
Cory Stutes, Community Impact Director for the United Way and host of the event on Sept. 10, said the goal was to present a non-partisan discussion of the issues.
Panelist Tessa Wigginton, Deputy Director of the Licking County Board of Elections, described levies and their purpose. “First, I want to talk about renewal versus replacement. Levies are property taxes that are specifically designated to one thing, a committee on providing services.”
Wigginton explained that renewal levies do not alter the cost of the levy from the original valuation. “What this means is that if a levy is renewed, the levy stays as it is, and the tax is based on the original property value from the first time the levy was passed.”
She said that a replacement levy is a vote to change the levy valuation to current property values, and residents would pay the millage based on current valuations.
“This leads to the next question: What is millage and what is a mill? A mill is $1 for every $1,000. In Ohio, the taxable value is 35% of the property’s value. So let’s say a home is worth $100,000. If there was a 2-mill levy passed, that property owner would have $70 taxable value.”
Melissa Owens, executive director of Licking County Aging Partners, weighed in with her own experience in seeking renewal of levies.
“In November of 2024, the ‘Citizens for Seniors’ levy was up for renewal based on the original prices from 2019, when the levy was replaced.”
She said the levy provided $6.1 million for senior programs in 2024. Some of that goes to Licking County Aging Partners, but she said the senior levy supports about 20 recipients, including the Licking County Aging Program and Licking County Transit.
The panelists said that the tax dollars generated by levies support services provided by local governments and school districts, but also some non-governmental agencies. Ballot language describes for voters what they are being asked to approve.
“It is easy for politicians to want to bank money, and while it is important to have some rainy day funds, levies put the power into your hands,” said panelist Valerie Mockus, mayor of Hebron.
Mockus explained the role of levies in Hebron.
“We have a capital improvement plan, and we balance it against the comprehensive plan, and then determine the money we need from levies and property taxes to provide services,” she said, adding that village leaders work to balance the cost of services with keeping taxes affordable.
She and the other panelists said that these ballot issues put power into the people’s hands. If voters don’t want specific services or an increase in taxes, they can vote against them. If voters are satisfied with their local government services, they can vote to approve levies.
“Many hands make light work,” Mockus said. “I want to emphasize the role of citizens in contributing to the local government. If your elected officials are making decisions you don’t like, say something. Call them and express your voice.”
Wigginton agreed about the importance of citizen participation.
“Even in ‘small’ elections, your vote matters so much – not just presidential races,” she said. “Local elections impact your day-to-day life significantly, and I really want to urge people to pay attention. Before going to the polls, look into the issues and levies on your ballot; each one is unique and has different impacts.”
The board of elections provides voters with basic information about issues and candidates on the ballot.
Delaney Brown writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.