JOHNSTOWN — Northridge Local Schools have placed a renewal tax levy on the November ballot. The 1 percent school income tax renewal will extend the district’s operating funding for another five years.
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Jayma Bammerlin, Pride in Northridge Levy Committee chairman, said passage of the levy will not mean more taxes for district residents; the tax has been in place since 1996.
Bammerlin stressed the levy is not a property tax, nor does it apply to Social Security income, disability and survivor benefits, railroad retirement, workers’ compensation benifits, welfare or child support. Renewal of the tax will continue to provide $1.7 million each year, an estimated 17 percent of the school district’s operating budget.
Bammerlin said Northridge district residents are getting good value for their money; all four schools received an “Excellent” rating on the state report card, and posted the highest academic performance in Licking County at one of the lowest costs per student — annual expenditures per pupil at Northridge are $7,869 as opposed to a state average of $10,184.
Treasurer Jim Hudson said the district over the past few years made substantial budget cuts, including reducing the budget by about $1.1 million in 2010 alone.
If the income tax renewal levy fails, Bammerlin said the following cost containment measures may have to be implemented: Shorter school day; larger classes; cut certain teaching and non-teaching positions; cut all sports, clubs and extra-curricular activities; eliminate physical education, art and music in grades kindergarten through grade six; eliminate Vo-Ag, FFA and home economics; and close school buildings/grounds to community use.
For more information, call Superintendent John Shepard at (740) 967-6631 or e-mail northridgerenewal@gmail.com