ORANGE —
A special election to determine additional funding for a local school district is now underway.
Early voting in the West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District’s tax ratification election is happening now at three locations across the school district.
Early voting began Wednesday, June 13, and will continue through Tuesday, June 26. Early voting hours are from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., today and Friday, June 15; Monday, June 18; Wednesday, June 20 through Friday, June 22; and Monday, June 25. Extended hours are from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 19 and Tuesday, June 26.
Registered voters of the West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District may submit ballots at one of three early voting locations. These locations are at the Orange Public Library, 220 Fifth St. in Orange; the main foyer of West Orange-Stark Elementary, 2605 MLK Drive in Pinehurst; and West Orange-Stark High School’s main gym foyer, 1400 Newton St. in West Orange.
A budget deficit of approximately $1.1 million left the district’s school board few options in finding a remedy.
The school board called for a special election to seek voter approval to raise the maintenance and operation tax rate from $1.04 to $1.17. Voter approval would net the district approximately $1.4 million in additional funds and cause less impact to tax-payers. Taxes would increase $52 per year for the owner of a home valued at $50,000 if voters were to approve the tax ratification election.
However, if voters deny the district’s request, the Board of Trustees have already voted to remove the homestead exemption of $20,000 for taxpayers.
Eliminating the homestead exemption would bring an increase of $800,000 in revenue to the district, less than needed, but it would also raise taxes the most for homeowners because businesses would be unaffected.
Taxes would increase $129 per year for the owner of a home valued at $50,000 if the tax ratification election fails. The main reason for the disparity in figures is because the tax ratification election would impact homeowners and businesses, where the homestead exemption would only impact homeowners.
District residents which are ages 65 and older will not be affected as they are already exempt, regardless of the outcome of the election.
Election day is Saturday, June 30.
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