What are the five types of levies that you could see on the ballot?
During November's election people across the country will be closely watching the presidential race but local levies could make a huge impact on the Mahoning Valley. With five different types of levies, what do they each mean?
Renewal levies ask to keep an old levy going. If a levy is going to expire, renewing it would bring it back at the same millage and housing valuation from when it was passed.
Replacement levies update an old levy to get more money. If a levy is about to expire it will keep the same mileage as before but would take into account your new home valuation. Think of it as replacing your old home valuation with your new one.
Money collected from operation levies can go to a variety of things and isn't earmarked for a specific purpose.
“It's just whatever it takes to operate the city, township fire department. Whatever is benign put on,” Stephanie Penrose the Director of the Trumbull County Board of Elections said.
Emergency levies are usually used by school districts. The auditor sets a specific mileage in order to raise a specific amount each year.
Last are continuing levies. While all other levies have a fixed period of time, continuing levies go on forever. With no expiration date, the only way to get rid of this type of levy is to put it back on the ballot and vote for the rate to go down to zero.
Levies can be put on the ballot in individual townships and cities or they can be countywide. Penrose said there are about 10 levies on ballots in Trumbull County for the November election. Cities, townships and the county still have until the end of August to add more.
Voters can preview their exact ballot at the end of September on their local Board of Elections site.
Leading up to the election if voters have any questions they can call the Trumbull County BOE at 330-369-4160.