Board to study public comment policy
MAPLETOWN – The Southeastern Greene School Board will look into the district’s policy on the time limit for the public comment period portion of the meeting Thursday after the president of school board said the board will not be so lenient on time for debate in the future. Board President Leonard Novak told the board and a few residents in the audience that three minutes to talk is very generous.
“There’s no reason why we come here to hash out stuff. …The chair will not be so lenient in the future. The items for people’s knowledge are already on the agenda,” Novak said.
Director Joe Spiker asked if it was the board’s policy to have a three-minute time limit on discussions.
“I don’t think you can limit my freedom of speech unless a policy has been passed by the board,” Spiker told Novak.
Novak said as long as he’s been on the board, the three-minute time rule has applied, but he doesn’t know if the board passed a policy about the matter.
Director Sandy Theis, policy chairperson, was instructed to check for a policy regarding the time allowance.
The public discussion portion of the meeting revolved around the debate on whether to create a $50,000 three-year certificate of deposit or CD through the Community Bank of Carmichaels to honor the Evelyn Minor scholarship bequest, or to place that money in the hands of the Community Foundation of Greene County, which some argue is the wiser move.
The motion to deposit the money in a CD failed in a 4-4 tie with directors Spiker, Theis, Dr. Thomas Howard and Gary Yoskovich voting against it. Director Denise Clark was absent.
Director Mary Jo Ullom voiced her opposition to the idea of investing the money with the community foundation. She said the move would be too risky and would leave less scholarship money available for the student recipient.
Howard disagreed, saying, “It’s about as safe as anything you can imagine.”
Howard presented to the board the pros of placing the money in the hands of the community foundation, including yielding a larger return and the foundation could manage the money.
Spiker pushed to settle the matter.
“We have nine board members. It’s going to be a 5-4. Let’s get all board members to vote on it even if you have to give them a cell phone,” Spiker said. “I just want to get the money invested so someone worthy student can get it. The education committee has done a good job on setting the criteria for the scholarship.
In other business, taxpayers will be happy to know that the board adopted their final 2005-06 budget without a tax increase.
At the current millage rate of 24 mills, which will remain the same this year. A homeonwer with a house assessed at $50,000 will pay $1,200 per year in real estate property taxes.
The $9,477,962 spending plan is more than $250,000 higher than the 2004-05 budget, according to business manager Patrick Sweeney. He said the increase is the result of higher utility rates, rising health insurance costs and $50,000 for new textbooks.
Salaries, Sweeney said, are remaining level because of several retirements.
Sweeney said half of the district’s $2.3 million fund balance is designated for capital projects.
Meanwhile, the board also approved the discount rate of 2 percent and a penalty rate of 10 percent, both consistent with previous years.
The board noted that property taxpayers would receive the discount if their taxes are paid in full between July 1 and Sept. 30. The penalty rate will apply to property taxes that are paid between Dec. 1 and Dec. 30. On Jan. 1, 2006, all unpaid property taxes will be considered delinquent and turned over to the county for collection.
The board also approved local taxes, which will remain the same as previous years, including the 1 percent earned income tax, which is levied on employed individuals and excludes Social Security, retirement, interest and dividend and is split between the school district and the municipality. This rate is also consistent with previous years, and the $10 Occupational Privilege Tax, which is levied on individuals employed within the boundaries of the district and is split evenly between the school district and municipality.
The board also approved the 10 percent amusement tax after certain board members questioned the value of the tax.
At questioning from Director Gary Moser, Sweeney said the amusement tax brings approximately $10,000 to the school district. Moser said that it could bring in a lot more money to the district.
“So as of now the 10 percent amusement tax is a joke because some people are thumbing their nose at us,” Moser said.
The board noted that the amusement tax is levied on the privilege of engaging in an amusement and is assessed on the admission prices. It is split evenly between the school district and the municipality and is consistent with previous years.