Kent Voters to see Police Levy Again on November Ballot

Proposed 0.25 percent income tax increase would pay to build new police station, would expire in 2038

It's official. Kent voters will again cast ballots on a proposed 0.25 percent income tax increase that would pay to build a new Kent Police station. Kent City Council voted Wednesday to send the issue back to the ballot in what was council's final action on the issue. Now, one year after voters rejected the idea of a tax hike to build a new police department they will be asked the same question. In November 2012 voters rejected Issue 11, which would have raised Kent's income tax from 2 percent to 2.25 percent to pay to build an estimated $18.36 million police building in the Day Street block. Kent residents cast 4,240 votes for the tax increase and 5,163 against the tax. There are two differences in what voters rejected in November 2012 …

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Mars

2:35 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013

Maybe we could stop all the tax abatement nonsense and make some money from all the crap going on downtown.   more ›

Low Voter Turnout for School Levy Ballot

16.8 percent of eligible voters cast ballots on the operating levy

The majority of voters eligible to cast a vote on the Kent City Schools levy Tuesday stayed home. A total 3,608 votes were cast on Issue 8, according to final but unofficial results from the Portage County Board of Elections. The 8.9 mill school operating levy passed by a vote of 2,201 for the levy and 1,407 against it, according to the board of elections. Citywide, there are 17,223 registered voters in Kent. Add in the neighboring townships and villages, and 21,380 voters were eligible to cast a vote on the levy last week. Of the eligible voters, just 16.8 percent cast a vote on the levy. The votes cast in favor of the levy represent just 10 percent of the total voters eligible to vote on the issue. Countywide, Portage saw a voter turnout…

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Readers React to School Levy Vote

Low turn out, annual cost to residents among topics

Voters Pass School Levy, Deny Former Councilman Seat

All information is according to the Portage County Board of Elections. Results are final but unofficial.

Voters in Kent overwhelmingly approved a 8.9-mill continuing operating levy for the Kent City Schools Tuesday while denying a former councilman a return to Kent City Council. Voters approved Issue 8 by a vote of 2,201 for the levy to 1,407 against the levy, according to final but unofficial results from the Portage County Board of Elections. The victory came by an 800-vote margin. The levy will raise $4.25 million annually for the school district, according to school officials. The tax increase will cost the owner of a house valued at $100,000 about $272 per year. In the Democratic primary, a newcomer moves on to the general election in November for Kent City Council. Incumbent at-large councilmen Roger Sidoti, an appointee, and Michael …

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Readers React to School Levy Editorial

Superintendent says levy on Tuesday's ballot counters lack of state financial support

Police Levy Going Back to Ballot with Sunset Provision

Income tax hike would only pay off debt to build new police station

City administrators and Kent City Council plan again to ask voters to approve a 0.25 percent income tax increase to pay for a new Kent Police station. Council voted in committee Wednesday to place the issue on the November ballot, but this time they included a sunset provision in the ballot language and eliminated the idea that any excess revenue would pay for streets and sidewalks repair — language that was included in the previous ballot issue. In November 2012 voters rejected Issue 11, which would have raised Kent's income tax from 2 percent to 2.25 percent to pay to build an estimated $18.36 million police building in the Day Street block. Kent residents cast 4,240 votes for the tax increase and 5,163 against the tax. Kent City Manager…

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Superintendent: Levy Counters Lack of State Support

Kent City Schools superintendent Joseph Giancola talks about Issue 8, an 8.9-mill levy on the May 7 ballot

Editor's note: this editorial was submitted by Kent City Schools Superintendent Joseph Giancola. Patch does not endorse election candidates or ballot issues. To read more about Issue 8, the 8.9-mill school operating levy on the May 7 ballot, click on this link. -Editor Matt Fredmonsky  State funding of Ohio Schools has been debated for decades. Our local board of education, the Ohio Legislature, and even the Ohio Supreme Court have engaged in heated discussions without 100 percent agreement. The beauty of our democratic freedoms is that we can debate and ultimately work together for the common good of future generations. Public education’s primary goal of nurturing the development of our children must not be lost in the debate about school…

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League of Women Voters Endorses School Levy

Community creates Facebook page to promote Issue 8

Editor's note: The Kent League of Women Voters recently endorsed the upcoming Kent City Schools levy on the May special election ballot. Below you'll find a statement issued by the league regarding their endorsement. For more information on the levy, which will be Issue 8 on the ballot, visit the Kent Levy Facebook page, KentLevy.org and follow Kent Patch for election coverage. -The Editor   The League of Women Voters of Kent is endorsing, Issue 8, the 8.9-mill additional levy for Kent City Schools, on the May 7 ballot. “The Kent League has completed an in-depth examination of the Kent City Schools’ need for additional money and the proposed uses of the money. Based on this review the League concluded that the levy is critical to …

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Kent Schools Put Levy on May 2013 Ballot

District asking voters to approve 8.9-mill operating levy

Kent voters will be asked in May to vote on a 8.9-mill operating levy for the Kent City Schools. The Kent City Schools Board of Education voted this week to put the levy on the May 2013 ballot. The levy would pay for general operations of the school district and would raise $4.25 million per year. It would cost the owner of a house valued at $100,000 for tax purposes $272.56 per year. "That breaks down to $0.75 per day," Kent City Schools Treasurer Debbie Krutz said. School administrators told the education board during Tuesday's meeting that the district has saved $4.2 million annually the past few years thanks to belt-tightening efforts. The district's voters last approved an operating levy in 2006. "Because of our cost-savings …

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Sunset Provision a Possibility for New Police Station

City administrators still reviewing options for addressing need to replace existing building

The need to replace Kent's aging police station hasn't gone away despite the defeat of Issue 11 in November. Kent Safety Director William Lillich said city administrators are reviewing alternatives for replacing the building, which originally dates to 1924 and has experienced numerous structural and mechanical failures in recent years. "Everything's up in the air at this point," Lillich said. Issue 11 proposed a 0.25 percent income tax increase that would have repaid about $18.3 million worth of bonds issued to build a new police station. Kent voters denied the proposed tax increase with 5,490 votes cast against it and 4,486 votes for the increase — a 1,004 vote margin — according to final results from the Portage County Board of Elections…

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Chris (Kit) Myers

6:46 pm on Saturday, December 15, 2012

Well Mr. Hater, in that case, if you, your mother, father, sister, or brother, are ever assaulted, mugged, shot, slashed, raped, or sodomized, don't call the police, just call another hater. You probably associate with some others. Most people that I know, or have known, who hate the police, have done something wrong to get their attention. These people continue to do wrong and end up in rehab, …   more ›