What would be the impact 
on Ohio pocketbooks?

OHIO — What kind of financial impact could closing Ohio High School have on the village and district taxpayers?

That was the subject under discussion at Monday’s school board meeting.

After last month’s presentation of the report from the Future of Ohio High School committee, board members asked Superintendent Sharon Flesher to gather additional information, including the impact of the various options on residents’ tax bills and what would happen to money from Ohio’s Tax Increment Financing district.

On Monday, Flesher said she computed the estimated changes in tax bills for a variety of property owners if Ohio annexed into the Princeton High School District, whose tax rate is about half of Ohio’s. She took current tax bills, subtracted the portion of the tax that goes to the OHS district and added the amount that would go to the PHS district.

Flesher said she spoke with Bureau County Supervisor of Assessments Tom Sweeney, who told her this method was the best way to get an estimate. Sweeney stressed it was only an estimate, but said it was a “pretty accurate” snapshot.

Flesher also spoke with Tom Jacobs, the village’s Tax Increment Financing district attorney to take into account changes on tax bills due to the TIF. The TIF district includes scattered portions of the village, and is not limited to the village’s new housing development.

The scenarios explained by Flesher showed Ohio taxpayers saving a varying range of money. She said the estimated changes would only apply if the district annexed to Princeton, not if it deactivated. In that case, OHS would continue to collect taxes, which it would use to pay tuition for the students at one or more other districts, and to help maintain the current property if the board so chose.

Board member Carol Debruhl was concerned with the effect on the TIF funds collected by the village. In the scenarios, the village would lose $1,129 in TIF district funds on just two houses.

“People would save money on their taxes, but the community would lose money,” she said.

The money is used by the village for a variety of projects, including water projects. In addition, the village also gives between $40,000 and $45,000 per year to the Ohio high school and grade school districts, which is less than the schools would receive without the TIF.