At the July 17 Regular Board Meeting, the Pike-Delta-York Board of Education unanimously approved placing the renewal of the current Substitute Levy on the November 5, 2024 ballot. The ballot issue is a 5.31 mill operating levy which is generating just over $1.3 million for the district. This levy is costing homeowners $15.50 per month for a home valued at $100,000 and about $46 per month for a home valued at $300,000.
Superintendent Jon Burke states, "The main need to continue this levy is to provide financial stability in budgeting for the long-term future. This levy continues to cost residents less money over time as new real estate is added to the tax base."
The Board of Education had a discussion about the Substitute Levy and the 1% Traditional Income Tax. The board discussed the desire to move the 1% Traditional Income Tax to an Earned Income Tax in the following year, which would give some tax relief those taxpayers with capital gains, dividends, pensions, and retirement funds. The board voted unanimously to place the Substitute Levy on the November ballot stating the passage of the Substitute Levy gives the district the best opportunity to move the traditional income tax to an earned income tax and stay at 1%. The consensus was that the continuation of this levy continues to provide the district with the most financial stability.
The Substitute Levy failed the last two times it appeared on the ballot. It went down handedly in November 2023, and it failed by a narrow margin in March 2024. "If the Substitute Levy expires in December of 2024, the district will be compelled to return to the ballot for new funding in the near future. This Substitute Levy carries exemptions and credits that can add up to 12.5% for qualifying homeowners. A new money request, whether in the form of a property tax or an income tax, will eventually cost homeowners more money than what this levy will over time," Superintendent Jon Burke explains. He continues, "Originally this levy cost a homeowner $17.10 per month with a value of $100,000. Now it's projected to cost $15.50 per month for a value of $100,000 and it's collecting more money. Delta is on the verge of growing and this levy allows the district to capture growth on new real estate without coming back to the voters for new money every several years."
More information regarding the proposal to renew the PDY Substitute Levy can be found HERE.