Levies Affecting Your Taxes on the November Ballot
by Tom Waniewski
When you vote this fall, you’ll be determining just how much money you’ll be sending to government and other public agencies in Lucas County. There are a couple of whoppers on the ballot too, so please take note and forward this story to your friends (and urge them to go out and vote).
The city of Toledo wants to add a .25% income tax hike making it the highest tax rate of any major city in Ohio. The mayor says the money will go to public safety. I served on Toledo City Council for 12 years and I got used to telling myself, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” The city and its spending is currently under scrutiny by the state auditor’s office, by the way. While the GOP loves our police and fire crews, there are people in those ranks who are telling me privately this hasn’t been thought out properly.
The library has a levy on the ballot which could increase their budget an additional 25 percent. Those are some expensive books, I guess. Toledo Public Schools is hoping you’ll send them another $33 million a year if their 6.9 mill property tax levy is approved. It doesn’t take a valedictorian to know those are some major dollars coming out of your property taxes. Sylvania Schools is also seeking a levy and is causing quite a stir in that suburb. It’s expected to drive a lot of voters to the polls.
We found a great resource with further details on these levies at WTOL.com. Reporter Steve Iwanek did a great job breaking down the dollars. CLICK HERE
Strong families have always been the foundation of strong communities. Ohio should be a state where our parents and grandparents can age with dignity, people with disabilities can live with greater independence, and those who sacrifice to care for the people they love can afford to keep doing so.
Every day, Ohioans help an aging parent get dressed, drive a spouse to medical appointments, install a wheelchair ramp or step away from work to care for a relative. These family caregivers rarely ask for recognition. They simply do what families do: show up for one another.
In May, we ran a Q&A from Congressional Candidate Derek Merrin shortly after his primary win. With a month left until the General Election, Merrin could be on the cusp of making history. Here are his responses to issues facing families in District 9 that was originally published in May.
Pictured above: Ian Chamberlin, candidate for District 41 State Representative, has his own version of a “fireside chat” as he tapes videos on his front porch in south Toledo.
Pictured above: David Karmol tapes four separate videos that he will use through Facebook for his campaign for District 43 State Representative.
Pictured below: GOP candidates (left to right) Jaime Agnew, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Derek Merrin march in the Labor Day parade. Your Republican Party is the best friend of hard-working Americans.
Issue 3 is an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio that would require Ohio voters to present a government-issued photo identification to vote. We strongly urge passage of this common-sense issue. While Ohio law already requires that voters show a proper photo ID, such as a driver’s license or other government-issued ID, when casting a ballot in person, Issue 3 would place the matter more permanently in the Ohio Constitution.
Changing the Constitution is a bit more challenging. Proponents of Issue 3 argue the current law could be easily changed as the political make-up of the General Assembly changes. We agree. There are few political issues more sacred than protecting the one-person, one-vote scenario. Proper voter identification keeps the process honest. Enshrining the law in the Ohio Constitution makes it rock solid.
There have been more than two dozen cases of election fraud adjudicated since 2000 in the country. Ohio, as a whole, has monitored its elections thoroughly and has put checks and balances in the process to ensure honesty and accuracy. Nationwide more than 80 percent of the public believes a proper picture identification should be required for casting an in-person ballot.
Acceptable forms are a valid Ohio driver’s license, a U.S. passport, or a military ID. In-person voters who do not possess photo identification because of a sincere religious objection to being photographed would be permitted to provide an alternative verification of their identity, as provided by Ohio law.
The Lucas County Republican Party urges a “YES” vote on Issue 3.
Issue 14 in Sylvania is the citizen-initiated “Sylvania Resource Conservation and Equal Access Ordinance,” which would limit city (including police) use of resources for federal immigration enforcement and prohibit conditioning city services on immigration status.
Councilman Doug Haynam proposed it; after the City Council majority declined to adopt it, supporters collected signatures to place it on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
The Lucas County Republican Party urges a “NO” vote on Issue 14.
You’ll be able to vote at the Lucas County Board of Elections beginning October 6th. These are important mid-term elections. Plus, the Lucas County GOP has some excellent candidates on the ballot. There should be no excuse to miss this election. Early voting is at 3737 W. Sylvania Ave. Click here to view a schedule of times for early voting:
Ed Shimmel, District 44 State Representative Candidate Fundraiser, If you’re looking for a fun, fall time while helping out one of our candidates, check out Ed Schimmel’s Farm Fundraiser. Complete with hay rides. Bring the entire family. Details here.
OCTOBER 8 - Thursday
Fallen Timbers Club Meeting, GOP headquarters on Kittle Rd., Holland OH. 6:30 p.m. social time, meeting at 7 p.m.
OCTOBER 8 - Thursday
Meet & Ask, with Maumee City Council Candidate Philip Leinbach. 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Maumee Library. Email: citizensforphilip@outlook.com if you need more information.
OCTOBER 15 - Thursday
Oregon Conservative Club and Toledo Tea Party, meets third Thursday of the month at Oregon Senior Center, 4350 Navarre Ave., Time: 7 p.m. Speaker is C.J. Kamm who is running for judge of the Sixth District Court of Appeals. Hot dogs and donuts served.
OCTOBER 17 & 18 - Saturday & Sunday
40th Annual Sylvania Fall Festival. A parade to kick it off with food and fun through the weekend. Learn more here
OCTOBER 19 - Monday
Lucas County Republican Women meets at GOP headquarters 1306 Kittle Rd., Holland, OH
