T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA The Martins Ferry City School District Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Martins Ferry School District High School cafeteria.

MARTINS FERRY — The Martins Ferry City School District Board of Education will vote Thursday evening on a proposal to shift a portion of property tax to a fund that would help offset millions the district is paying on previous improvements to its schools. The change would increase residents’ property taxes, a possibility that has its share of detractors within the city.

The board will hold a public hearing on the proposal at 6 p.m. Thursday, then vote at its meeting to begin immediately afterward.

The proposal, Martins Ferry Schools Superintendent Jim Fogle said, would transfer four mills of property tax within the 10-mill limitation from a general fund to a permanent improvements fund. Any money transferred to the permanent improvements fund can only be used for capital improvements and may not be used for any salary or benefits, Fogle added.

Fogle said that, if passed, the funds would offset a payment that the board is making out of the general fund for an $11 million loan that paid for several improvements. Among them were fixing two separate hill slips behind the elementary school, replacing the elementary, middle and high school roofs, and replacing the middle and high school’s flooring.

“That’s about $700,000 a year that comes out of our general fund before we even start business,” Fogle said.

According to the Martins Ferry School District Board of Education, shifting four mills would generate an additional $1,086,000 per year that could be used for permanent improvement purposes.

If passed, the change will result in an increase of the amount of real property taxes levied by the board. According to information provided by the district, a resident with land assessed at $100,000 would see a monthly property tax increase of $11.67. A resident with land assessed at $200,000 would see a monthly increase of $23.33. At $300,000, the monthly increase would be $35.

Fogle said he hears and understands Martins Ferry residents who are upset with the proposal.

“I understand, especially with the tax revaluation that just transpired,” he said, “but at the time when we didn’t have a choice and we had to act quickly to remediate these areas that we couldn’t control, we didn’t go to the public for a dime. But now it’s really taking its toll on our general fund.”

According to information released by the district, transferring that millage would keep the district from making even deeper staffing cuts than already planned through a financial recovery plan. Transferring the millage would keep the cuts at 26 employees with three spots absorbed through attrition. Without the transfer, the district said it would have to cut 39 employees.

In response to the news of the potential increase, multiple residents took to social media to voice their concerns. Among those opposing the move is Martins Ferry Mayor John Davies.

“How many of my people, the seniors that are on a fixed income, the low-income residents we have, how many of them will lose their house because of this?” Davies asked.

Davies believes that the board doesn’t care if Martins Ferry residents lose their houses, but he does. So he believes it is his responsibility as mayor to speak out against the proposed raise.

“Here’s my question: if this four mill goes in, is that going to solve your problems? Because I’m going to say no,” he said. “Where does it end? I don’t think that they can get enough money to fix that school.”

Davies said protecting residents of his city is his top priority.

“I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect my people all that I can,” he said. “That’s what we’re going to do in the city of Martins Ferry, we’re going to take care of our people.”