Members of the Bellefontaine Rotary Club learned more about the Bellefontaine City Schools Levy Monday afternoon.

BCS Superintendent Brad Hall addressed Rotarians about the Substitute Emergency Operating Levy that’s on the ballot this fall.

Hall said the levy will replace an existing Emergency Operating Levy that was originally passed in 2007. Voters then renewed the levy in 2011 and 2016.

Essentially, the upcoming levy is a renewal of the emergency levy that was approved in ’07 with the exception that it can capture new revenue when new homes and new business/industry buildings are built in the district.

The substitute emergency operating levy will collect the same dollar amount annually ($1.185 million) that taxpayers are currently paying and that will not change.

Hall reported that revenue from the levy will be used for day-to-day operating expenses. This includes educational programs, school safety measures, personnel, transportation, textbooks, and utilities.

Hall added, “Barring any unforeseen circumstances, if the community approves this levy, as it has in the past, the district would not need to return to voters until 2029.”

Your taxes will not increase as a result of the substitute emergency operating levy if you had an existing home under the original levy.

You can see more at http://www.bellefontaine.k12.oh.us/district/what_s_new/frequently_asked_questions_regarding_b_c_s_levy

Mental Health, Drug & Alcohol Services Board Executive Director Tammy Nicholl detailed the agency’s 0.7 mill replacement levy.

Nicholl said 1 out of 4 Americans struggles with mental health.

The levy will cost each taxpayer about $11/year.

Finally, Logan County Board of Elections Director Adam Brannon and Deputy Director Kandie Horton discussed the fall election.

Brannon said voter turnout has been very light.

He said that 700 county residents voted in the first day of early voting last year.

This year, there were 290 early voters across the county after the first week.

There are several contested races locally, including every Bellefontaine City Council seat.

There are also contested races for the West Liberty-Salem School Board and West Liberty Council.

You can see more at https://www.boe.ohio.gov/logan/

Early voting continues through November 1st at 2 p.m.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 2nd. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

The Bellefontaine Rotary Club meets every Monday at noon at The Syndicate in downtown Bellefontaine.