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The village of Moscow is asking its citizens to continue paying the 1-mill operating levy that will otherwise expire at the end of this year.

In 2007, the tax generated $38,861 for the village, according to the Clermont County Auditor's Office. Currently, homeowners pay $8.49 in taxes to the village on a $50,000 home.

This renewal tax, which will be on the ballot Nov. 4, will not generate any new taxes, it will only be a renewal of the taxes already in place. Homeowners will continue to pay the current amount of village taxes if the levy passes.

"This tax just covers the everyday operating expenses of the village," said Moscow Village Administrator Sandra Ashba.

Ashba said the money pays for village employee salaries as well as building operations, maintenance and upkeep costs.

"For biggest communities, a 1-mill levy generates a lot of money, but the smaller distressed communities need money to operate, too," Ashba said. "We don't have many homes and our property values are low ... But we need our $38,000 just to make it."

The village also provides its residents waste-water treatment services and trash pickup at no cost.

"The tax pays for the services we provide," Ashba said. "I encourage people to look at this as a renewal and not an added tax. We aren't asking for additional money."