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SPRINGBORO — A decision by the Warren County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities could have an effect on the Springboro schools operating levy on the Aug. 5 ballot.

On July 15, the MRDD board voted to cut its levy in half and collect only 2 mills beginning in 2009.

The move, which will save homeowners almost $47 annually on a $100,000 home, was unanimously approved by Warren County commissioners.

"This didn't happen overnight," said Eugene Rose, president of the MRDD board. "As soon as this levy passed in 2002, we continued to maintain fiscally conservative spending habits. The result is now a large surplus."

In addition, Springboro Superintendent David Baker said so many people have moved into the district over the last 10 years, the auditor can collect enough money to pay the mortgage on the high school with less millage — so it has been reduced 1.53 mills.

Added with the MRDD decision, Baker said, that means passage of the 3.99-mill school levy on the Aug. 5 ballot will now only increase the tax rate to residents by 0.86 mills starting in January.

For a homeowner of a house appraised at $100,000, passing the levy would increase his taxes by $26.34 per year, Baker said.

The increase for a $250,000 house would be $65.85.

Warren County Commissioner Dave Young praised the MRDD for "generally being fiscally responsible."

"We have disagreements with the board over money from time to time, but overall the taxpayers are winning the war," Young said.

"They have been good stewards of the levy money and are ultimately saving the taxpayers large amounts of money."