NEW PARIS — On election day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, voters in the National Trail Local School District will decide on Issue 40, a proposed renewal of the district’s .75 percent traditional income tax which has funded educational operations since 2005.
The Board of Education has placed the measure on the ballot as a five-year renewal, seeking to extend the income tax from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2030. This tax renewal does not introduce a new tax but instead extends an existing levy that helps maintain the district’s financial stability, school officials point out in a Frequently Asked Questions document.
The .75 percent income tax, first approved in 2005 and renewed three times since, generates approximately $1.4 million annually, which supports essential services like classroom resources, transportation, safety measures, and mental health programs. District officials stress that the revenue helps offset rising costs in areas such as fuel, supplies, and employee expenses, especially as state funding has not kept pace with these expenses. The Ohio Fair School Funding Act, which was intended to balance funding, has not been fully implemented, leaving many districts, including National Trail, reliant on local taxes to cover budget gaps, school officials point out.
If renewed, the income tax would continue to apply to various forms of income, such as wages, tips, and certain retirement benefits, though it excludes social security benefits, workers’ compensation, and other forms of support. The district emphasizes that the cost to individual taxpayers remains steady, at seventy-five cents per $100 earned after adjustments. For taxpayers over 65, a senior citizen credit of $50 is also available.
District officials highlight efforts to stretch funds, such as partnerships with local agencies and participation in purchasing cooperatives to save on supplies and services. They encourage residents to consider the levy’s importance in sustaining services for students and maintaining the quality of the district’s programs. The renewal, they note, is vital for avoiding interruptions to educational services as state and federal funding remain unpredictable.
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.
