PEPPER PIKE, Ohio — Treasurer Gary Platko says several bills related to property taxes, which the Ohio House of Representatives recently passed and are currently being discussed by the Ohio Senate, should not have much impact on the Orange City School District.
Platko provided a brief summary of the proposed bills during his treasurer’s report to the Orange Board of Education Monday (Oct. 27).
House Bill 186, which the Ohio House approved Oct. 22, is a proposal to cap automatic increases in school property taxes.
It would change how much schools get in taxes when property values rise, lowering taxes for homeowners in certain districts.
Platko said the bill would cap property tax growth “at a 20-mill floor to inflation.”
“We’re not a 20-mill floor district, so that legislation doesn’t really have any effect on us,” he said.
Some districts that the bill would affect are seeking money from the state for reimbursement of some potential revenue loss, Platko said.
He said the state would fund that by canceling the extended sales tax holiday that was implemented in Ohio this year.
“I think they’re still going to have a sales tax holiday for the weekend (in August), as was the case previously, but not the two-week span that it was for this year,” he said.
House Bill 335, which the House passed recently, would limit inside millage revenue increases, Platko said.
Inside millage is a portion of property taxes — up to 10 mills — that local governments and school districts can collect without voter approval.
“We figured about 15 percent of our property tax revenue is inside millage,” Platko said. “It means (the bill) would cap that growth to inflation.”
Platko said he has learned that the bill does not apply to new construction, so the district would still receive increased revenue from new construction — as it has in the past.
“It’s more just valuation increases going forward,” he said.
“We only project about a 5 percent increase in our (five-year) forecast; we’re pretty conservative. That’s lower than historical inflation, so it doesn’t really affect our forecast much.”
House Bill 129, which also has passed in the House, would limit districts’ ability to reallocate certain property tax millage.
“It changes the calculation of the 20-mill floor what levies are calculated,” Platko said.
“We don’t have emergency or substitute levies and we’re not at the 20-mill floor, so that legislation does not affect us, but it would affect other districts.”
House Bill 309, another measure that has passed in the House, would amend various sections of the Ohio Revised Code to enhance regulations regarding county budget commissions and property taxes in Ohio.
“Basically, this gives the (Cuyahoga County) Budget Commission the ability to lower our collection rate if they felt that we’re having excessive collections,” Platko said.
Longtime custodian remembered
Also on Monday, several school board members commented on the recent death of longtime Orange Schools custodian John Reccord.
Reccord, 75, died Oct. 18. He had retired in August after working 36 years in the district.
“He was very special to me,” board member Angela Arnold said. “He was always generous with his smile, just a wonderful guy.”
Arnold shared that Reccord encouraged her many years ago to run for the school board.
“He just planted that seed for me,” she said.
“I feel he was that person for so many people. He will be missed.”
A post on the Orange School District’s website reads, “John was a friend to everyone he met.
“He will be missed and remembered by the many, many Orange Schools students, families and staff members who were blessed to know him.”
On the Orange Alumni Association’s Facebook page, Alumni Association President Staci Adelman Vincent posted, “John had a joie de vivre like no other and was a fixture at the schools, always ready to lend a hand and assist whenever and wherever needed with a smile on his face.
“I was blessed to work closely with John through the years, and our discussions ranged from our kids to our careers to the events at hand to Cleveland sports,” Vincent added.
Public visitation for Reccord was Monday at the Gaines Funeral Home in Maple Heights.
His celebration of life service was set for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday (Oct. 28) at Zion Pentecostal Church of Christ in Cleveland.
Resignation accepted
In other action, the board accepted the resignation of Christopher Switzer, sports coordinator for Orange Community Education and Recreation, effective Nov. 7.
Switzer served in the position for 10 years.
“Chris has done a wonderful job for us,” board Vice President Beth Wilson-Fish said. “We’re going to miss him terribly.
“I hope he knows how much of a great impact he’s had on our community here.”
Board President Jeffrey Leikin added, “Chris built our youth sports program. We wish him good luck.”
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