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Chapter 5748 | School District Income Tax

 
 
 
Section
Section 5748.01 | School district income tax definitions.
 

As used in this chapter:

(A) "School district income tax" means an income tax adopted under one of the following:

(1) Former section 5748.03 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to its repeal by Amended Substitute House Bill No. 291 of the 115th general assembly;

(2) Section 5748.03 of the Revised Code as enacted in Substitute Senate Bill No. 28 of the 118th general assembly;

(3) Section 5748.08 of the Revised Code as enacted in Amended Substitute Senate Bill No. 17 of the 122nd general assembly;

(4) Section 5748.021 of the Revised Code;

(5) Section 5748.081 of the Revised Code;

(6) Section 5748.09 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Individual" means an individual subject to the tax levied by section 5747.02 of the Revised Code.

(C) "Estate" means an estate subject to the tax levied by section 5747.02 of the Revised Code.

(D) "Taxable year" means a taxable year as defined in division (M) of section 5747.01 of the Revised Code.

(E) "Taxable income" means:

(1) In the case of an individual, one of the following, as specified in the resolution imposing the tax:

(a) Modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year, as defined in section 5747.01 of the Revised Code, less the exemptions provided by section 5747.02 of the Revised Code;

(b) Wages, salaries, tips, and other employee compensation to the extent included in modified adjusted gross income as defined in section 5747.01 of the Revised Code, and net earnings from self-employment, as defined in section 1402(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, to the extent included in modified adjusted gross income.

(2) In the case of an estate, taxable income for the taxable year as defined in division (S) of section 5747.01 of the Revised Code.

(F) "Resident" of the school district means:

(1) An individual who is a resident of this state as defined in division (I) of section 5747.01 of the Revised Code during all or a portion of the taxable year and who, during all or a portion of such period of state residency, is domiciled in the school district or lives in and maintains a permanent place of abode in the school district;

(2) An estate of a decedent who, at the time of death, was domiciled in the school district.

(G) "School district income" means:

(1) With respect to an individual, the portion of the taxable income of an individual that is received by the individual during the portion of the taxable year that the individual is a resident of the school district and the school district income tax is in effect in that school district. An individual may have school district income with respect to more than one school district.

(2) With respect to an estate, the taxable income of the estate for the portion of the taxable year that the school district income tax is in effect in that school district.

(H) "Taxpayer" means an individual or estate having school district income upon which a school district income tax is imposed.

(I) "School district purposes" means any of the purposes for which a tax may be levied pursuant to division (A) of section 5705.21 of the Revised Code, including the combined purposes authorized by section 5705.217 of the Revised Code.

(J) "The county auditor's appraised value" and "estimated effective rate" have the same meanings as in section 5705.01 of the Revised Code.

Last updated July 13, 2022 at 10:20 AM

Section 5748.02 | School district income tax proposal and election.
 

(A) The board of education of any school district, except a joint vocational school district, may declare, by resolution, the necessity of raising annually a specified amount of money for school district purposes. The resolution shall specify whether the income that is to be subject to the tax is taxable income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code or taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of that section. A copy of the resolution shall be certified to the tax commissioner no later than one hundred days prior to the date of the election at which the board intends to propose a levy under this section. Upon receipt of the copy of the resolution, the tax commissioner shall estimate both of the following:

(1) The property tax rate that would have to be imposed in the current year by the district to produce an equivalent amount of money;

(2) The income tax rate that would have had to have been in effect for the current year to produce an equivalent amount of money from a school district income tax.

Within ten days of receiving the copy of the board's resolution, the commissioner shall prepare these estimates and certify them to the board. Upon receipt of the certification, the board may adopt a resolution proposing an income tax under division (B) of this section at the estimated rate contained in the certification rounded to the nearest one-fourth of one per cent. The commissioner's certification applies only to the board's proposal to levy an income tax at the election for which the board requested the certification. If the board intends to submit a proposal to levy an income tax at any other election, it shall request another certification for that election in the manner prescribed in this division.

(B)(1) Upon the receipt of a certification from the tax commissioner under division (A) of this section, a majority of the members of a board of education may adopt a resolution proposing the levy of an annual tax for school district purposes on school district income. The proposed levy may be for a continuing period of time or for a specified number of years. The resolution shall set forth the purpose for which the tax is to be imposed, the rate of the tax, which shall be the rate set forth in the commissioner's certification rounded to the nearest one-fourth of one per cent, the number of years the tax will be levied or that it will be levied for a continuing period of time, the date on which the tax shall take effect, which shall be the first day of January of any year following the year in which the question is submitted, and the date of the election at which the proposal shall be submitted to the electors of the district, which shall be on the date of a primary, general, or special election the date of which is consistent with section 3501.01 of the Revised Code. The resolution shall specify whether the income that is to be subject to the tax is taxable income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code or taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of that section. The specification shall be the same as the specification in the resolution adopted and certified under division (A) of this section.

If the tax is to be levied for current expenses and permanent improvements, the resolution shall apportion the annual rate of the tax. The apportionment may be the same or different for each year the tax is levied, but the respective portions of the rate actually levied each year for current expenses and for permanent improvements shall be limited by the apportionment.

If the board of education currently imposes an income tax pursuant to this chapter that is due to expire and a question is submitted under this section for a proposed income tax to take effect upon the expiration of the existing tax, the board may specify in the resolution that the proposed tax renews the expiring tax. Two or more expiring income taxes may be renewed under this paragraph if the taxes are due to expire on the same date. If the tax rate being proposed is no higher than the total tax rate imposed by the expiring tax or taxes, the resolution may state that the proposed tax is not an additional income tax.

(2) A board of education adopting a resolution under division (B)(1) of this section proposing a school district income tax for a continuing period of time and limited to the purpose of current expenses may propose in that resolution to reduce the rate or rates of one or more of the school district's property taxes levied for a continuing period of time in excess of the ten-mill limitation for the purpose of current expenses. The reduction in the rate of a property tax may be any amount, not exceeding the rate at which the tax is authorized to be levied. The reduction in the rate of a tax shall first take effect for the tax year that includes the day on which the school district income tax first takes effect, and shall continue for each tax year that both the school district income tax and the property tax levy are in effect.

In addition to the matters required to be set forth in the resolution under division (B)(1) of this section, a resolution containing a proposal to reduce the rate of one or more property taxes shall state for each such tax the maximum rate at which it currently may be levied and the maximum rate at which the tax could be levied after the proposed reduction, expressed in mills for each one dollar of taxable value, and that the tax is levied for a continuing period of time.

A board proposing to reduce the rate of one or more property taxes under division (B)(2) of this section shall comply with division (B) of section 5705.03 of the Revised Code. In addition to the amounts required in division (B)(2) of that section, the county auditor shall certify to the board the levy's estimated effective rate for both the last year before the levy's proposed reduction and the first year that the reduction applies, both expressed in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value. Estimated effective rates shall be calculated using the tax list for the current year, and if this is not determined, the estimated amount submitted by the auditor to the county budget commission.

If a board of education proposes to reduce the rate of one or more property taxes under division (B)(2) of this section, the board, when it makes the certification required under division (A) of this section, shall designate the specific levy or levies to be reduced, the maximum rate at which each levy currently is authorized to be levied, and the rate by which each levy is proposed to be reduced. The tax commissioner, when making the certification to the board under division (A) of this section, also shall certify the reduction in the total effective tax rate for current expenses for each class of property that would have resulted if the proposed reduction in the rate or rates had been in effect the previous tax year. As used in this paragraph, "effective tax rate" has the same meaning as in section 323.08 of the Revised Code.

(C) A resolution adopted under division (B) of this section shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no publication of the resolution shall be necessary other than that provided for in the notice of election. Immediately after its adoption and at least ninety days prior to the election at which the question will appear on the ballot, a copy of the resolution and, if applicable, the county auditor's certifications under section 5705.03 of the Revised Code shall be certified to the board of elections of the proper county, which shall submit the proposal to the electors on the date specified in the resolution. The form of the ballot shall be as provided in section 5748.03 of the Revised Code. Publication of notice of the election shall be made in a newspaper of general circulation in the county once a week for two consecutive weeks, or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, prior to the election. If the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall contain the time and place of the election and the question to be submitted to the electors. The question covered by the resolution shall be submitted as a separate proposition, but may be printed on the same ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election, other than the election of officers.

(D) No board of education shall submit the question of a tax on school district income to the electors of the district more than twice in any calendar year. If a board submits the question twice in any calendar year, one of the elections on the question shall be held on the date of the general election.

(E)(1) No board of education may submit to the electors of the district the question of a tax on school district income on the taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code if that tax would be in addition to an existing tax on the taxable income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (2) of that section.

(2) No board of education may submit to the electors of the district the question of a tax on school district income on the taxable income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code if that tax would be in addition to an existing tax on the taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of that section.

Last updated July 15, 2022 at 9:30 AM

Section 5748.021 | Replacement tax under RC 5748.02 - submission to electors.
 

A board of education that levies a tax under section 5748.02 of the Revised Code on the school district income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions (G) and (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code may declare, at any time, by a resolution adopted by a majority of its members, the necessity of raising annually a specified amount of money for school district purposes by replacing the existing tax with a tax on the school district income of individuals as defined in divisions (G)(1) and (E)(1)(b) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code. The specified amount of money to be raised annually may be the same as, or more or less than, the amount of money raised annually by the existing tax.

The board shall certify a copy of the resolution to the tax commissioner not later than the eighty-fifth day before the date of the election at which the board intends to propose the replacement to the electors of the school district. Not later than the tenth day after receiving the resolution, the tax commissioner shall estimate the tax rate that would be required in the school district annually to raise the amount of money specified in the resolution. The tax commissioner shall certify the estimate to the board.

Upon receipt of the tax commissioner's estimate, the board may propose, by a resolution adopted by a majority of its members, to replace the existing tax on the school district income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions (G) and (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code with the levy of an annual tax on the school district income of individuals as defined in divisions (G)(1) and (E)(1)(b) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code. In the resolution, the board shall specify the rate of the replacement tax, whether the replacement tax is to be levied for a specified number of years or for a continuing time, the specific school district purposes for which the replacement tax is to be levied, the date on which the replacement tax will begin to be levied, the date of the election at which the question of the replacement is to be submitted to the electors of the school district, that the existing tax will cease to be levied and the replacement tax will begin to be levied if the replacement is approved by a majority of the electors voting on the replacement, and that if the replacement is not approved by a majority of the electors voting on the replacement the existing tax will remain in effect under its original authority for the remainder of its previously approved term. The resolution goes into immediate effect upon its adoption. Publication of the resolution is not necessary, and the information that will be provided in the notice of election is sufficient notice. At least seventy-five days before the date of the election at which the question of the replacement will be submitted to the electors of the school district, the board shall certify a copy of the resolution to the board of elections.

The replacement tax shall have the same specific school district purposes as the existing tax, and its rate shall be the same as the tax commissioner's estimate rounded to the nearest one-fourth of one per cent. The replacement tax shall begin to be levied on the first day of January of the year following the year in which the question of the replacement is submitted to and approved by the electors of the school district or on the first day of January of a later year, as specified in the resolution. The date of the election shall be the date of an otherwise scheduled primary, general, or special election.

The board of elections shall make arrangements to submit the question of the replacement to the electors of the school district on the date specified in the resolution. The board of elections shall publish notice of the election on the question of the replacement in one newspaper of general circulation in the school district once a week for four consecutive weeks or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code. The notice shall set forth the question to be submitted to the electors and the time and place of the election thereon.

The question shall be submitted to the electors of the school district as a separate proposition, but may be printed on the same ballot with other propositions that are submitted at the same election, other than the election of officers. The form of the ballot shall be substantially as follows:

"Shall the existing tax of _____ (state the rate) on the school district income of individuals and estates imposed by _____ (state the name of the school district) be replaced by a tax of _____ (state the rate) on the earned income of individuals residing in the school district for _____ (state the number of years the tax is to be in effect or that it will be in effect for a continuing time), beginning _____ (state the date the new tax will take effect), for the purpose of _____ (state the specific school district purposes of the tax)? If the new tax is not approved, the existing tax will remain in effect under its original authority, for the remainder of its previously approved term.

For replacing the existing tax with the new tax
Against replacing the existing tax with the new tax
"

The board of elections shall conduct and canvass the election in the same manner as regular elections in the school district for the election of county officers. The board shall certify the results of the election to the board of education and to the tax commissioner. If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote in favor of the replacement, the existing tax shall cease to be levied, and the replacement tax shall begin to be levied, on the date specified in the ballot question. If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote against the replacement, the existing tax shall continue to be levied under its original authority, for the remainder of its previously approved term.

A board of education may not submit the question of replacing a tax more than twice in a calendar year. If a board submits the question more than once, one of the elections at which the question is submitted shall be on the date of a general election.

If a board of education later intends to renew a replacement tax levied under this section, it shall repeat the procedure outlined in this section to do so, the replacement tax then being levied being the "existing tax" and the renewed replacement tax being the "replacement tax."

Last updated May 20, 2022 at 10:59 AM

Section 5748.022 | Resolution reducing tax rate.
 

A majority of the members of a board of education of a school district levying a tax under section 5748.02 of the Revised Code may adopt a resolution reducing the rate of the tax by a multiple of one-fourth of one per cent.

The resolution shall set forth the current rate of the tax, the reduced rate of tax that results from adoption of the resolution, the purpose or purposes for which the tax is levied, the remaining number of years the tax will be levied or that it is levied for a continuing period of time, and the date on which the reduced tax rate shall take effect, which shall be the ensuing first day of January occurring at least forty-five days after a copy of the resolution is certified to the tax commissioner.

Section 5748.03 | Ballot form.
 

(A) The form of the ballot on a question submitted to the electors under section 5748.02 of the Revised Code shall be as follows:

"Shall an annual income tax of _______ (state the proposed rate of tax) on the school district income of individuals and of estates be imposed by _______ (state the name of the school district), for _______ (state the number of years the tax would be levied, or that it would be levied for a continuing period of time), beginning _______ (state the date the tax would first take effect), for the purpose of ______ (state the purpose of the tax)?

FOR THE TAX
AGAINST THE TAX"

(B)(1) If the question submitted to electors proposes a school district income tax only on the taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code, the form of the ballot shall be modified by stating that the tax is to be levied on the "earned income of individuals residing in the school district" in lieu of the "school district income of individuals and of estates."

(2) If the question submitted to electors proposes to renew one or more expiring income tax levies, the ballot shall be modified by adding the following language immediately after the name of the school district that would impose the tax: "to renew an income tax (or income taxes) expiring at the end of ________ (state the last year the existing income tax or taxes may be levied)."

(3) If the question includes a proposal under division (B)(2) of section 5748.02 of the Revised Code to reduce the rate of one or more school district property taxes, the ballot shall state that the purpose of the school district income tax is for current expenses, and the form of the ballot shall be modified by adding the following language immediately after the statement of the purpose of the proposed income tax: ", and shall the rate of an existing tax on property, currently levied for the purpose of current expenses at the rate of _______ mills, be REDUCED to _______ mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to a reduction from $_______ (estimated effective rate) to $_______ (estimated effective rate) for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, that the county auditor estimates will collect $_____ annually, the reduction continuing until any such time as the income tax is repealed." In lieu of "for the tax" and "against the tax," the phrases "for the issue" and "against the issue," respectively, shall be used. If a board of education proposes a reduction in the rates of more than one tax, the ballot language shall be modified accordingly to express the rates at which those taxes currently are levied and the rates to which the taxes will be reduced.

(C) The board of elections shall certify the results of the election to the board of education and to the tax commissioner. If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote in favor of it, the income tax, the applicable provisions of Chapter 5747. of the Revised Code, and the reduction in the rate or rates of existing property taxes if the question included such a reduction shall take effect on the date specified in the resolution. If the question approved by the voters includes a reduction in the rate of a school district property tax, the board of education shall not levy the tax at a rate greater than the rate to which the tax is reduced, unless the school district income tax is repealed in an election under section 5748.04 of the Revised Code.

(D) If the rate at which a property tax is levied and collected is reduced pursuant to a question approved under this section, the tax commissioner shall compute the percentage required to be computed for that tax under division (D) of section 319.301 of the Revised Code each year the rate is reduced as if the tax had been levied in the preceding year at the rate at which it has been reduced. If the rate of a property tax increases due to the repeal of the school district income tax pursuant to section 5748.04 of the Revised Code, the tax commissioner, for the first year for which the rate increases, shall compute the percentage as if the tax in the preceding year had been levied at the rate at which the tax was authorized to be levied prior to any rate reduction.

Last updated July 15, 2022 at 9:31 AM

Section 5748.04 | Petition for election repealing tax.
 

(A) The question of the repeal of a school district income tax levied for more than five years may be initiated not more than once in any five-year period by filing with the board of elections of the appropriate counties not later than ninety days before the general election in any year after the year in which it is approved by the electors a petition requesting that an election be held on the question. The petition shall be signed by qualified electors residing in the school district levying the income tax equal in number to ten per cent of those voting for governor at the most recent gubernatorial election.

The board of elections shall determine whether the petition is valid, and if it so determines, it shall do both of the following:

(1) Submit the question to the electors of the district at the next general election;

(2) If the rate of one or more property tax levies was reduced for the duration of the income tax levy pursuant to division (B)(2) of section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, request that the county auditor certify to the board, in the same manner as required for a tax levy under section 5705.03 of the Revised Code, an estimate of the levies' annual collections for the first year in which the levies are increased, rounded to the nearest one thousand dollars, and the levies' estimated effective rates for the year before the proposed increase and the levies' estimated effective rates for the first year that the increase applies, both of which shall be expressed in dollars, rounded to the nearest dollar, for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value. Estimated effective rates shall be calculated using the tax list for the current year, and if this is not determined, the estimated amount submitted by the auditor to the county budget commission.

The county auditor shall certify such information to the board of elections within ten days after receiving the board's request. If a school district is located in more than one county, the county auditor shall obtain from the county auditor of each other county in which the district is located the tax valuation applicable to the portion of the district in that county.

The election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections for county offices in the county. Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the district once a week for two consecutive weeks, or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, prior to the election. If the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the time and place of the election and the question to be submitted to the electors. The form of the ballot cast at the election shall be as follows:

"Shall the annual income tax of _____ per cent, currently levied on the school district income of individuals and estates by __________ (state the name of the school district) for the purpose of __________ (state purpose of the tax), be repealed?

For repeal of the income tax
Against repeal of the income tax"

(B)(1) If the tax is imposed on taxable income as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code, the form of the ballot shall be modified by stating that the tax currently is levied on the "earned income of individuals residing in the school district" in lieu of the "school district income of individuals and estates."

(2) If the rate of one or more property tax levies was reduced for the duration of the income tax levy pursuant to division (B)(2) of section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, the form of the ballot shall be modified by adding the following language immediately after "repealed": ", and shall the rate of an existing tax on property for the purpose of current expenses, which rate was reduced for the duration of the income tax, be INCREASED from _____ mills to _____ mills for each $1 of taxable value which amounts to an increase from $_____ (estimated effective rate) to $_____ (estimated effective rate) for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, that the county auditor estimates will collect $_____ annually, beginning in _____ (state the first year for which the rate of the property tax will increase)." In lieu of "for repeal of the income tax" and "against repeal of the income tax," the phrases "for the issue" and "against the issue," respectively, shall be substituted.

(3) If the rate of more than one property tax was reduced for the duration of the income tax, the ballot language shall be modified accordingly to express the rates at which those taxes currently are levied and the rates to which the taxes would be increased.

(C) The question covered by the petition shall be submitted as a separate proposition, but it may be printed on the same ballot with any other proposition submitted at the same election other than the election of officers. If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question vote in favor of it, the result shall be certified immediately after the canvass by the board of elections to the board of education of the school district and the tax commissioner, who shall thereupon, after the current year, cease to levy the tax, except that if notes have been issued pursuant to section 5748.05 of the Revised Code the tax commissioner shall continue to levy and collect under authority of the election authorizing the levy an annual amount, rounded upward to the nearest one-fourth of one per cent, as will be sufficient to pay the debt charges on the notes as they fall due.

(D) If a school district income tax repealed pursuant to this section was approved in conjunction with a reduction in the rate of one or more school district property taxes as provided in division (B)(2) of section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, then each such property tax may be levied after the current year at the rate at which it could be levied prior to the reduction, subject to any adjustments required by the county budget commission pursuant to Chapter 5705. of the Revised Code. Upon the repeal of a school district income tax under this section, the board of education may resume levying a property tax, the rate of which has been reduced pursuant to a question approved under section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, at the rate the board originally was authorized to levy the tax. A reduction in the rate of a property tax under section 5748.02 of the Revised Code is a reduction in the rate at which a board of education may levy that tax only for the period during which a school district income tax is levied prior to any repeal pursuant to this section. The resumption of the authority to levy the tax upon such a repeal does not constitute a tax levied in excess of the one per cent limitation prescribed by Section 2 of Article XII, Ohio Constitution, or in excess of the ten-mill limitation.

(E) This section does not apply to school district income tax levies that are levied for five or fewer years.

Last updated July 15, 2022 at 9:31 AM

Section 5748.05 | Issuing anticipation notes.
 

After the approval by the electors of a resolution under section 5748.03, 5748.08, or 5748.09 of the Revised Code to impose a school district income tax to provide an increase in current operating revenues or in current revenues for permanent improvements and prior to the time when the first payment to the district from the tax can be made, a board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the tax and issue anticipation notes in an amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the tax to be collected for its first year of collection as estimated by the tax commissioner. The anticipation notes are Chapter 133. securities and shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code as if property tax anticipation notes. The notes shall have principal payments during each year after their year of issuance over a period not to exceed five years and, if determined by the board of education, during the year of their issuance. The legislation authorizing issuance of the notes may also provide for the annual levy and collection of voted ad valorem property taxes levied for the applicable purpose for which the notes are issued and for the application of the proceeds of the levy to the extent necessary to pay annual debt charges on the notes.

Section 5748.06 | Credit against tax for senior citizens.
 

For a taxpayer sixty-five years of age or older during the taxable year, a credit shall be permitted against the tax otherwise due under this chapter for such year equal to fifty dollars for each return required to be filed under section 5747.08 of the Revised Code for taxes levied under this chapter. The credit allowed under this section shall not exceed the tax otherwise due.

Section 5748.08 | Income tax and bond issue submitted as one question on ballot.
 

(A) The board of education of a city, local, or exempted village school district, at any time by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that it may be necessary for the school district to do all of the following:

(1) Raise a specified amount of money for school district purposes by levying an annual tax on school district income;

(2) Issue general obligation bonds for permanent improvements, stating in the resolution the necessity and purpose of the bond issue and the amount, approximate date, estimated rate of interest, and maximum number of years over which the principal of the bonds may be paid;

(3) Levy a tax outside the ten-mill limitation to pay debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities;

(4) Submit the question of the school district income tax and bond issue to the electors of the district at a special election.

The resolution shall specify whether the income that is to be subject to the tax is taxable income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code or taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of that section.

On adoption of the resolution, the board shall certify a copy of it to the tax commissioner and the county auditor no later than one hundred five days prior to the date of the special election at which the board intends to propose the income tax and bond issue. Not later than ten days of receipt of the resolution, the tax commissioner, in the same manner as required by division (A) of section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, shall estimate the rates designated in divisions (A)(1) and (2) of that section and certify them to the board. Not later than ten days of receipt of the resolution, the county auditor shall estimate and certify to the board the average annual property tax rate required throughout the stated maturity of the bonds to pay debt charges on the bonds, in the same manner as under division (C) of section 133.18 of the Revised Code.

(B) On receipt of the tax commissioner's and county auditor's certifications prepared under division (A) of this section, the board of education of the city, local, or exempted village school district, by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may adopt a resolution proposing for a specified number of years or for a continuing period of time the levy of an annual tax for school district purposes on school district income and declaring that the amount of taxes that can be raised within the ten-mill limitation will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the present and future requirements of the school district; that it is necessary to issue general obligation bonds of the school district for specified permanent improvements and to levy an additional tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation to pay the debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities; and that the question of the bonds and taxes shall be submitted to the electors of the school district at a special election, which shall not be earlier than ninety days after certification of the resolution to the board of elections, and the date of which shall be consistent with section 3501.01 of the Revised Code. The resolution shall specify all of the following:

(1) The purpose for which the school district income tax is to be imposed and the rate of the tax, which shall be the rate set forth in the tax commissioner's certification rounded to the nearest one-fourth of one per cent;

(2) Whether the income that is to be subject to the tax is taxable income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code or taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of that section. The specification shall be the same as the specification in the resolution adopted and certified under division (A) of this section.

(3) The number of years the tax will be levied, or that it will be levied for a continuing period of time;

(4) The date on which the tax shall take effect, which shall be the first day of January of any year following the year in which the question is submitted;

(5) The amount of the estimated average annual property tax levy, expressed in mills for each one dollar of taxable value and dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value, as certified by the county auditor under division (A) of this section.

(C) A resolution adopted under division (B) of this section shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no publication of the resolution shall be necessary other than that provided for in the notice of election. Immediately after its adoption and at least ninety days prior to the election at which the question will appear on the ballot, the board of education shall certify a copy of the resolution, along with copies of the auditor's estimate and its resolution under division (A) of this section, to the board of elections of the proper county. The board of elections shall make the arrangements for the submission of the question to the electors of the school district, and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections in the district for the election of county officers.

The resolution shall be put before the electors as one ballot question, with a majority vote indicating approval of the school district income tax, the bond issue, and the levy to pay debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities. The board of elections shall publish the notice of the election in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district once a week for two consecutive weeks, or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, prior to the election. If the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, it also shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice of election shall state all of the following:

(1) The questions to be submitted to the electors;

(2) The rate of the school district income tax;

(3) The principal amount of the proposed bond issue;

(4) The permanent improvements for which the bonds are to be issued;

(5) The maximum number of years over which the principal of the bonds may be paid;

(6) The estimated additional average annual property tax rate to pay the debt charges on the bonds, as certified by the county auditor, and expressed in mills for each one dollar of taxable value and in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value;

(7) The time and place of the special election.

(D) The form of the ballot on a question submitted to the electors under this section shall be as follows:

"Shall the ________ school district be authorized to do both of the following:

(1) Impose an annual income tax of ______ (state the proposed rate of tax) on the school district income of individuals and of estates, for ________ (state the number of years the tax would be levied, or that it would be levied for a continuing period of time), beginning ________ (state the date the tax would first take effect), for the purpose of ________ (state the purpose of the tax)?

(2) Issue bonds for the purpose of _______ in the principal amount of $______, to be repaid annually over a maximum period of _______ years, and levy a property tax outside the ten-mill limitation estimated by the county auditor to average over the bond repayment period _______ mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $_______ for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, to pay the annual debt charges on the bonds, and to pay debt charges on any notes issued in anticipation of those bonds?

FOR THE INCOME TAX AND BOND ISSUE
AGAINST THE INCOME TAX AND BOND ISSUE"

(E) If the question submitted to electors proposes a school district income tax only on the taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code, the form of the ballot shall be modified by stating that the tax is to be levied on the "earned income of individuals residing in the school district" in lieu of the "school district income of individuals and of estates."

(F) The board of elections promptly shall certify the results of the election to the tax commissioner and the county auditor of the county in which the school district is located. If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote in favor of it, the income tax and the applicable provisions of Chapter 5747. of the Revised Code shall take effect on the date specified in the resolution, and the board of education may proceed with issuance of the bonds and with the levy and collection of the property taxes to pay debt charges on the bonds, at the additional rate or any lesser rate in excess of the ten-mill limitation. Any securities issued by the board of education under this section are Chapter 133. securities, as that term is defined in section 133.01 of the Revised Code.

(G) After approval of a question under this section, the board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the school district income tax in accordance with section 5748.05 of the Revised Code. Any anticipation notes under this division shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code, shall have principal payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed five years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their issuance.

(H) The question of repeal of a school district income tax levied for more than five years may be initiated and submitted in accordance with section 5748.04 of the Revised Code.

(I) No board of education shall submit a question under this section to the electors of the school district more than twice in any calendar year. If a board submits the question twice in any calendar year, one of the elections on the question shall be held on the date of the general election.

Last updated July 15, 2022 at 9:32 AM

Section 5748.081 | Procedure for levying replacement tax under RC 5748.08.
 

A board of education of a school district that, under divisions (A)(1), (D)(1), and (E) of section 5748.08 or under section 5748.09 of the Revised Code, levies a tax on the school district income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions (G) and (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code may replace that tax with a tax on the school district income of individuals as defined in divisions (G)(1) and (E)(1)(b) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code by following the procedure outlined in, and subject to the conditions specified in, section 5748.021 of the Revised Code, as if the existing tax levied under section 5748.08 or 5748.09 were levied under section 5748.02 of the Revised Code. The tax commissioner and the board of elections shall perform duties in response to the actions of the board of education under this section as directed in section 5748.021 of the Revised Code.

Section 5748.09 | Authority for school district to place property and income tax levies on ballot as combined issue.
 

(A) The board of education of a city, local, or exempted village school district, at any time by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that it may be necessary for the school district to do all of the following:

(1) Raise a specified amount of money for school district purposes by levying an annual tax on school district income;

(2) Levy an additional property tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation for the purpose of providing for the necessary requirements of the district, stating in the resolution the amount of money to be raised each year for such purpose;

(3) Submit the question of the school district income tax and property tax to the electors of the district at a special election.

The resolution shall specify whether the income that is to be subject to the tax is taxable income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code or taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of that section.

On adoption of the resolution, the board shall certify a copy of it to the tax commissioner and the county auditor not later than one hundred days prior to the date of the special election at which the board intends to propose the income tax and property tax. Not later than ten days after receipt of the resolution, the tax commissioner, in the same manner as required by division (A) of section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, shall estimate the rates designated in divisions (A)(1) and (2) of that section and certify them to the board. Not later than ten days after receipt of the resolution, the county auditor, in the same manner as required by section 5705.195 of the Revised Code, shall make the calculation specified in that section and certify it to the board.

(B) On receipt of the tax commissioner's and county auditor's certifications prepared under division (A) of this section, the board of education of the city, local, or exempted village school district, by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may adopt a resolution declaring that the amount of taxes that can be raised by all tax levies the district is authorized to impose, when combined with state and federal revenues, will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the present and future requirements of the school district, and that it is therefore necessary to levy, for a specified number of years or for a continuing period of time, an annual tax for school district purposes on school district income, and to levy, for a specified number of years not exceeding ten or for a continuing period of time, an additional property tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation for the purpose of providing for the necessary requirements of the district, and declaring that the question of the school district income tax and property tax shall be submitted to the electors of the school district at a special election, which shall not be earlier than ninety days after certification of the resolution to the board of elections, and the date of which shall be consistent with section 3501.01 of the Revised Code. The resolution shall specify all of the following:

(1) The purpose for which the school district income tax is to be imposed and the rate of the tax, which shall be the rate set forth in the tax commissioner's certification rounded to the nearest one-fourth of one per cent;

(2) Whether the income that is to be subject to the tax is taxable income of individuals and estates as defined in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (2) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code or taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of that section. The specification shall be the same as the specification in the resolution adopted and certified under division (A) of this section.

(3) The number of years the school district income tax will be levied, or that it will be levied for a continuing period of time;

(4) The date on which the school district income tax shall take effect, which shall be the first day of January of any year following the year in which the question is submitted;

(5) The amount of money it is necessary to raise for the purpose of providing for the necessary requirements of the district for each year the property tax is to be imposed;

(6) The number of years the property tax will be levied, or that it will be levied for a continuing period of time;

(7) The tax list upon which the property tax shall be first levied, which may be the current year's tax list;

(8) The amount of the average tax levy, expressed in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value as well as in mills for each one dollar of taxable value, estimated by the county auditor under division (A) of this section.

(C) A resolution adopted under division (B) of this section shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no publication of the resolution shall be necessary other than that provided for in the notice of election. Immediately after its adoption and at least ninety days prior to the election at which the question will appear on the ballot, the board of education shall certify a copy of the resolution, along with copies of the county auditor's certification and the resolution under division (A) of this section, to the board of elections of the proper county. The board of education shall make the arrangements for the submission of the question to the electors of the school district, and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections in the district for the election of county officers.

The resolution shall be put before the electors as one ballot question, with a majority vote indicating approval of the school district income tax and the property tax. The board of elections shall publish the notice of the election in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district once a week for two consecutive weeks, or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, prior to the election. If the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, also shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice of election shall state all of the following:

(1) The questions to be submitted to the electors as a single ballot question;

(2) The rate of the school district income tax;

(3) The number of years the school district income tax will be levied or that it will be levied for a continuing period of time;

(4) The annual proceeds of the proposed property tax levy for the purpose of providing for the necessary requirements of the district;

(5) The number of years during which the property tax levy shall be levied, or that it shall be levied for a continuing period of time;

(6) The estimated average additional tax rate of the property tax, expressed in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value as well as in mills for each one dollar of taxable value, outside the limitation imposed by Section 2 of Article XII, Ohio Constitution, as certified by the county auditor;

(7) The time and place of the special election.

(D) The form of the ballot on a question submitted to the electors under this section shall be as follows:

"Shall the _____ school district be authorized to do both of the following:

(1) Impose an annual income tax of ______ (state the proposed rate of tax) on the school district income of individuals and of estates, for ________ (state the number of years the tax would be levied, or that it would be levied for a continuing period of time), beginning ________ (state the date the tax would first take effect), for the purpose of ________ (state the purpose of the tax)?

(2) Impose a property tax levy outside of the ten-mill limitation for the purpose of providing for the necessary requirements of the district in the sum of $__________________ (here insert annual amount the levy is to produce), estimated by the county auditor to average ________________ mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $________________ for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, for ______________ (state the number of years the tax is to be imposed or that it will be imposed for a continuing period of time), commencing in __________ (first year the tax is to be levied), first due in calendar year ____________ (first calendar year in which the tax shall be due)?

FOR THE INCOME TAX AND PROPERTY TAX
AGAINST THE INCOME TAX AND PROPERTY TAX "

If the question submitted to electors proposes a school district income tax only on the taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code, the form of the ballot shall be modified by stating that the tax is to be levied on the "earned income of individuals residing in the school district" in lieu of the "school district income of individuals and of estates."

(E) The board of elections promptly shall certify the results of the election to the tax commissioner and the county auditor of the county in which the school district is located. If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote in favor of it:

(1) The income tax and the applicable provisions of Chapter 5747. of the Revised Code shall take effect on the date specified in the resolution.

(2) The board of education of the school district may make the additional property tax levy necessary to raise the amount specified on the ballot for the purpose of providing for the necessary requirements of the district. The property tax levy shall be included in the next tax budget that is certified to the county budget commission.

(F)(1) After approval of a question under this section, the board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the school district income tax in accordance with section 5748.05 of the Revised Code. Any anticipation notes under this division shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code, shall have principal payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed five years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their issuance.

(2) After the approval of a question under this section and prior to the time when the first tax collection from the property tax levy can be made, the board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy and issue anticipation notes in an amount not exceeding the total estimated proceeds of the levy to be collected during the first year of the levy. Any anticipation notes under this division shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code, shall have principal payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed five years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their issuance.

(G)(1) The question of repeal of a school district income tax levied for more than five years may be initiated and submitted in accordance with section 5748.04 of the Revised Code.

(2) A property tax levy for a continuing period of time may be reduced in the manner provided under section 5705.261 of the Revised Code.

(H) No board of education shall submit a question under this section to the electors of the school district more than twice in any calendar year. If a board submits the question twice in any calendar year, one of the elections on the question shall be held on the date of the general election.

(I) If the electors of the school district approve a question under this section, and if the last calendar year the school district income tax is in effect and the last calendar year of collection of the property tax are the same, the board of education of the school district may propose to submit under this section the combined question of a school district income tax to take effect upon the expiration of the existing income tax and a property tax to be first collected in the calendar year after the calendar year of last collection of the existing property tax, and specify in the resolutions adopted under this section that the proposed taxes would renew the existing taxes. The form of the ballot on a question submitted to the electors under division (I) of this section shall be as follows:

"Shall the ________ school district be authorized to do both of the following:

(1) Impose an annual income tax of _______ (state the proposed rate of tax) on the school district income of individuals and of estates to renew an income tax expiring at the end of _______ (state the last year the existing income tax may be levied) for _______ (state the number of years the tax would be levied, or that it would be levied for a continuing period of time), beginning _______ (state the date the tax would first take effect), for the purpose of _______ (state the purpose of the tax)?

(2) Impose a property tax levy renewing an existing levy outside of the ten-mill limitation for the purpose of providing for the necessary requirements of the district in the sum of $___________________ (here insert annual amount the levy is to produce), estimated by the county auditor to average _________________ mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $_________________ for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, for _____________ (state the number of years the tax is to be imposed or that it will be imposed for a continuing period of time), commencing in ___________ (first year the tax is to be levied), first due in calendar year ____________ (first calendar year in which the tax shall be due)?

FOR THE INCOME TAX AND PROPERTY TAX
AGAINST THE INCOME TAX AND PROPERTY TAX "

If the question submitted to electors proposes a school district income tax only on the taxable income of individuals as defined in division (E)(1)(b) of section 5748.01 of the Revised Code, the form of the ballot shall be modified by stating that the tax is to be levied on the "earned income of individuals residing in the school district" in lieu of the "school district income of individuals and of estates."

(J)(1) If the electors of the school district approve a question under this section, and if the last calendar year the school district income tax is in effect and the last calendar year in which the property tax is collected are the same, the board of education of the school district may propose to submit under this section the combined question of all of the following:

(a) The renewal of the school district income tax levied under this section, to take effect upon the expiration of the existing income tax;

(b) The renewal of the property tax levied under this section, to be levied beginning in the tax year after the tax year in which the existing property tax expires;

(c) The renewal of a property tax levied under section 5705.194 of the Revised Code, regardless of the year it expires, to be levied beginning in the same tax year that the tax described in division (J)(1)(b) of this section is first levied.

If the combined question is approved, the existing tax levied under section 5705.194 of the Revised Code may not be levied for the first tax year the renewal tax is levied or any following tax year.

(2) In its resolution to be submitted to the tax commissioner and county auditor, the board of education shall include, in addition to the applicable requirements of division (A) of this section, a declaration of the necessity for the renewal of the property tax levied under section 5705.194 of the Revised Code, the purpose of the tax as specified under that section, and the necessity of the submission of the question of the renewal of the school district income tax and both property taxes to the electors of the district at a special election. Not later than ten days after receipt of the resolution, the county auditor shall make a separate calculation and certification with respect to the renewal tax described in division (J)(1)(c) of this section in the same manner as required by section 5705.195 of the Revised Code.

In its resolution adopted upon receipt of the commissioner's and county auditor's certifications, the board of education shall include, in addition to the applicable requirements of division (B) of this section, a declaration that the amount of taxes that can be raised by all tax levies the district is authorized to impose, when combined with state and federal revenues, will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the present and future requirements of the school district, and that it is therefore necessary to renew the existing property tax being levied in excess of the ten-mill limitation under section 5705.194 of the Revised Code for the purpose as specified in that section, for a specified number of years not exceeding ten or for a continuing period of time, and that the question of the renewal of the school district income tax and of both property taxes shall be submitted to the electors of the school district at a special election as described in division (B) of this section. With respect to the renewal tax described in division (J)(1)(c) of this section, the resolution shall specify the amount of money it is necessary to raise for the specified purpose for each calendar year the millage is to be imposed, the tax year that tax is to be first levied, and the estimated rate of that tax, expressed in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value as well as in mills for each one dollar of taxable value, as certified by the county auditor.

(3) In addition to the requirements of division (C) of this section, the notice of election shall separately state, with respect to the renewal tax described in division (J)(1)(c) of this section, the annual proceeds of the proposed levy for the specified purpose; the number of years the proposed tax will be levied, or that it shall be levied for a continuing period of time; and the estimated rate of the proposed levy, expressed in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value as well as in mills for each one dollar of taxable value, as certified by the county auditor.

(4) The form of the ballot on a question submitted to the electors under division (J) of this section shall be identical to the form of the ballot prescribed in division (I) of this section, except that the following shall be added after the third paragraph and in place of the voting box: "(3) Impose a property tax levy renewing an existing levy outside of the ten-mill limitation for the purpose of __________ (here insert purpose of levy as specified in section 5705.194 of the Revised Code and determined by the board of education) in the sum of $ __________ (here insert annual amount the levy is to produce), estimated by the county auditor to average __________ mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $__________ for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, for __________ (state the number of years the tax is to be imposed or that it will be imposed for a continuing period of time), commencing in ___________ (first year the tax is to be levied), first due in calendar year ____________ (first calendar year in which the tax shall be due)?

FOR THE INCOME TAX AND PROPERTY TAXES
AGAINST THE INCOME TAX AND PROPERTY TAXES"

If the existing property tax being levied under section 5705.194 of the Revised Code is scheduled to expire in a tax year different from that of the existing property tax being levied under this section, the form of the ballot shall be modified by adding the following statement at the end of the paragraph prescribed in this division: "If approved, any remaining tax years on the existing levy will not be levied after tax year _________ (last tax year the tax will be levied), last due in _________ (last calendar year in which the tax shall be due)."

(5) If a majority of the electors voting on the question submitted under division (J) of this section vote in favor of it, the board of education of the school district may, in addition to any other authorization in the Revised Code and prior to the time when the first tax collection from the renewal tax levy can be made, anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the renewal levy described in division (J)(1)(c) of this section and issue anticipation notes in an amount not exceeding the total estimated proceeds of the levy to be collected during the first year of the levy. Any such anticipation notes shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code, shall have principal payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed five years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their issuance.

(K) The question of a renewal levy under division (I) or (J) of this section shall not be placed on the ballot unless the question is submitted on a date on which a special election may be held under section 3501.01 of the Revised Code, except for the first Tuesday after the first Monday in August, during the last year the existing property tax levy described in division (J)(1)(b) of this section may be extended on the real and public utility property tax list and duplicate, or at any election held in the ensuing year.

The failure by the electors to approve the question of a renewal levy under division (I) or (J) of this section does not terminate the authority previously granted by the electors to levy the taxes proposed to be renewed for their previously approved duration.

(L) If the electors of the school district approve a question under this section, the board of education of the school district may propose to renew any of the existing taxes as individual ballot questions in accordance with section 5748.02 of the Revised Code, for the school district income tax, or section 5705.194 of the Revised Code, for the property tax or taxes.

Last updated March 9, 2023 at 2:03 PM

Section 5748.10 | School district income tax after consolidation.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "School district consolidation" means a consolidation of some or all of the territories of two or more school districts by transfer, merger, joinder, or creation pursuant to any of such procedures under Chapter 3311. of the Revised Code.

(2) "Surviving school district" means a school district into which territory of another school district will be consolidated pursuant to a school district consolidation.

(3) "Identification number" means the number designated by the tax commissioner for the purpose of enabling a taxpayer to identify the taxpayer's school district of residence pursuant to rules adopted by the commissioner in accordance with section 5747.04 of the Revised Code.

(B) On or before ninety days before the effective date of a school district consolidation, the board of education of a surviving school district that levies a school district income tax pursuant to a resolution that will be in effect on and after that effective date shall notify the tax commissioner in writing of all of the following:

(1) The name and identification number of each of the school districts involved in the consolidation, designating which is the surviving school district;

(2) The effective date of the consolidation;

(3) The rate of school district income tax levied by the surviving school district and, if applicable, any of the other school districts, pursuant to a resolution levying such a tax that will be in effect on and after the effective date of the consolidation.

(C) School district income tax shall be levied on the school district income of residents of a school district resulting from a school district consolidation pursuant to a resolution, if any, levying such a tax on such income of the surviving school district's residents adopted by the board of education of that district and in effect on and after that effective date. Nothing in this division prohibits the board of education of a school district from amending or adopting a resolution to levy a school district income tax in accordance with this chapter after a school district consolidation.