The deadline for filing nomination petitions for the May ballot was Wednesday at the county Board of Elections. The candidate petitions still need to be certified by the board.
If all candidate petitions are certified, voters will decide the winners of contested races for council’s three at-large seats, along with the 1st, 3rd and the 6th wards.
Candidates for three at-large seats will be newcomer Kay Friedly along with incumbents Todd Severt, Lynne Snee and Susan Westfall. All candidates are Republicans, meaning the race will be decided in the May 6 primary election.
Also on the May ballot will be a 3rd Ward race featuring Republicans Samuel Pierce, an incumbent, and Madison Hickman.
Candidates also filed to challenge Republican incumbents Jeffrey Whidden in the 1st Ward and Jeffrey Schilling in the 6th Ward.
Jeffrey Harris will be on the May ballot as a Democrat and will face Whidden in November. Sherrie Foster will be on the May ballot as a Republican and will face Schilling in the May election, according to the board of elections staff.
Council President William Rozell, a Republican, will run unopposed, as will incumbents Kristie Marshall in the 2nd Ward, Bobby Phillips in the 4th Ward and William Twiss in the 5th Ward.
Running for Troy city treasurer will be Bill Whidden, a Republican. Incumbent Mel Shane did not file for re-election to a four-year term.
The deadline for write-in candidates to file is Feb. 24.
Tax-increase levies
Organizations that will have tax-increase levies on the ballot are the Troy-Miami County Public Library, Milton-Union schools and Newberry Twp. The Pleasant Hill-Newton Twp. Joint Fire District had planned a tax levy, but pulled it from the ballot this week.
* The library system is seeking an additional 1-mill property tax for five years for current expenses. Those in the Troy, Miami East, Newton and Bethel school districts will vote on the request. A new 1-mill tax would cost a homeowner $35 annually per $100,000 of property value.
* Newberry Twp. is seeking from property owners in the unincorporated area a replacement property tax of 3.5 mills for five years for fire protection and ambulance, paramedic or other emergency medical purposes. The existing levy costs residents $99.74 annually per $100,000 of property value. If the replacement is passed, the new cost would be $122.50.
* The Milton-Union school district is asking voters to approve an additional, five-year, 0.75% earned income tax, after residents rejected three different tax requests by at least 60-40 ratios since November 2023. School district officials said voters have not passed a tax levy for new operating money in over 15 years. If this 0.75% income tax levy passes, it would cost someone with $50,000 in annual taxable income $375 in tax.
Renewal tax levies
Renewal taxes keep tax rates the same, but extend those taxes for a longer period of years. Agencies seeking renewals include:
* Bethel schools: Income tax renewal, 0.75%, five years, for current operating expenses;
* Tipp City schools: Emergency property tax, renewal, 2.97 mills, five years, for current expenses;
* Staunton Twp. (unincorporated): Property tax renewal, 4 mills, five years, providing fire and emergency medical services.
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com
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