BLANCHESTER — Blanchester Local Schools will again appeal to voters to pass an earned income tax on the November 8 ballot.

At Thursday’s school board meeting, members approved the 1.25% tax for the ballot in an effort to help raise much-needed funds.

Superintendent Randy Dunlap told the News Journal he hopes the public understands that the schools are in need of the money.

“We cut 14 positions, and that’s hard,” said Dunlap. “We’re getting to a point where cuts are going to adversely affect the education. Unfortunately, we have to stay solvent.”

He advised a financial audit was conducted by the State of Ohio due to the school district being in a “fiscal emergency.” He said the state’s recommendation was to make “some cuts and changes.”

“But if we want to get back to where we were and be successful and continue to provide good programming for kids, we have to have dollars to do it,” he said.

He added that there is also a need for maintenance for the school buildings and parking lots.

According to the resolution, the board hopes to raise an annual sum of $2,186,617 for “current and permanent improvements for the School District for a period of six years.”

Dunlap indicated .25% would go to permanent improvements while the rest would be for operations.

This would only be an earned income tax. This wouldn’t affect retirement, investments, or rental properties.

If successful in November, this tax would take effect on January 1, 2023.

Also during the board meeting:

• Dunlap announced there would be no high school boys soccer this school year due to “insufficient participation.”