BETTSVILLE - Bettsville Local School District is asking voters to approve an income tax for operating expenses on the Nov. 6 ballot.
According to information from Seneca County Board of Elections, the district is seeking renewal of a five-year, 1-percent income tax.
"This is just a renewal," said Roger Luhring, the district's treasurer.
Luhring said the tax has been renewed every five years since 1994 and generates about $220,000 annually. The money is used for expenses such as payroll and textbooks. The district's operating budget is $3.2 million, he said.
The current tax doesn't expire until next year. Historically, the district has put the request on the ballot a year early, so if it didn't pass, it would have another opportunity to put it on the ballot again, Luhring said.
He said if the levy fails next month, the district would put it on the next available ballot. If it didn't pass the second time, the district would have to make severe cuts, he said.
Voters in Bettsville always have supported the district, Luhring said.
He said going into the 2012-13 school year, the district cut nearly $250,000 out of the budget through reduction of personnel and services. It has had a drop in enrollment, which has reduced the amount of money the state has provided, he said.
