Photo by Janelle Patterson John Ruth, right, reviews signatures to file for candidacy in Belpre on Wednesday with Washington County Board of Elections Director Mandy Amos.

At a Glance

WHO’S FILED (terms beginning in 2022)

Belpre City Auditor: Alison Holland, no party noted, and Tina Nolan, R.

Belpre City Treasurer: Jacqulyn Cassady, R.

Belpre City Council:

¯ President: Larry Martin, R, and Donna Miller, R.

¯ First Ward: Kristopher Madison, no party noted.

¯ Second Ward: John McClead, no party noted.

¯ Third Ward: Lindsay Dennis, R.

¯ At large: David Ferguson, R; Floyd Millhone, no party noted; John Ruth, R.

Marietta City Treasurer: Cathy Harper, R.

Marietta City Council:

¯ President: Susan Vessels, R.

¯ First Ward: Mike Scales, D.

¯ Second Ward: Bret Allphin, D, and Christopher Pfeiffer, R.

¯ Third Ward: Bill Gossett, R.

¯ Fourth Ward: Geoff Schenkel, D.

¯ At-large: Susan Boyer, D; Bill Farnsworth, D; Cassidi Shoaf, R.

Note: Independent candidates have until May 3 to file for a spot on the November ballot.

Source: Washington County Board of Elections.

New faces abound on the list of filed candidacies for local elections this year as does an alternative for equity between local schools.

The filing deadline for the May primary was Wednesday.

ELECTED SEATS

“I’m a people person,” said John Ruth, 61, of Belpre, after dropping off his petitions to be certified as a candidate for one of Belpre’s at-large council seats.

Ruth said he’s decided to enter the fray of public life both following professional work as a project manager with past dealings with the city, and in the footsteps of his grandfather Bartelle Ruth who set the example of civic service for him, including trips to Washington, D.C., to lobby on behalf of the city.

“I grew up in Belpre … sold my farm in Barlow about a year and a half ago and moved back here,” Ruth said. “Now it’s time. I’ve had my ministries and worked in corporate business, and coached. I think I can serve here.”

Ruth wasn’t the only prospective candidate to drop off stacks of signatures Wednesday before the filing deadline at the Washington County Board of Elections in Marietta.

If all of the candidates who have filed are also certified by the board on Feb. 10, Belpre Republicans are to see a primary election on May 4 for a run-off of multiple council seats before sending on candidates to the general election in November for terms beginning in 2022.

Independent candidates have until May 3 to file for a spot on the November ballot.

Notably not on the list of filed candidates now awaiting certification on Feb. 10 by the board of elections are current officials like Belpre City Auditor Leslie Pittinger and Marietta Second Ward Councilman Mike McCauley.

SCHOOL EQUITY

The only primary Marietta is expected to see is that of a new Marietta City Schools levy in May.

Marietta City Schools are pursuing an earned income tax levy this spring, which if it passes would begin drawing revenue in 2022, quarterly.

“It only applies to residents of the school district, in contrast to the city income tax which applies to residents and people that are employed … within city limits,” said Marietta City Schools Board of Education President Russ Garrison.

The 0.75 percent earned income tax levy, if passed, is projected to send $3 million to the school district over the course of 2022.

“The $3 million gets us to a reasonably equitable spot compared to Warren (Local) School District on a revenue per-pupil basis,” said Garrison.

To what kind of income would this tax apply?

According to Garrison: W-2, Schedule C and Schedule E income tax filings.

This includes income from rental properties, partnership revenue, self-employment and independent contractors.

“I think the other important point here is that it shrinks if your income shrinks,” explained Garrison. “If you think about what we’re just going through with COVID, and you have your house and you lose your job. If it’s a property tax you still have to come up with a way to pay that bill. If there’s the income tax and you no longer have any earnings, there is no tax collected. And so it’s potentially more variable, but also with time should help adjust for inflation where property tax doesn’t.”

The present measure is on the ballot as a five-year earned income tax levy.

To what income would this tax not apply?

According to Garrison: Dividends, retirement, capital gains, pensions, social security, drawings on a 401k.

“Most retirees that are getting a pension or social security, or are working off of their 401k. None of that income would be taxed,” said Garrison.

If the levy would pass, the school district could have the resources to more comparably pay its teachers and classified staff. Approximately 80 percent of the operating expenses of the district are to fund current salaries and benefits.

“It’d be nice to have some more flexibility to make sure our teachers are compensated competitively, and currently we are behind the districts around us,” said Garrison, comparing Marietta City Schools to Warren Local Schools. “As well as having some more flexibility to provide resources for educational programs.”

See future editions of the Times for cost-scenarios, breakdowns by incomes, and how this proposed tax could take the place of a declining revenue stream of property tax which expires at the end of 2021.

Janelle Patterson may be reached at jpatterson@mariettatimes.com.