Portsmouth, Ohio voters will be asked to support a proposed renewal tax levy for the flood defense system on the Nov. 8 ballot. An ordinance to submit the levy to electors was scheduled for a first reading Monday night at the Portsmouth City Council meeting.

The proposed tax levy is described as a tax for the benefit of the city of Portsmouth for the purpose of providing funds for the operations, maintenance of equipment and capital improvements of the flood defense system for Portsmouth, at a rate not exceeding one mill for each dollar of tax valuation, which amounts to one dollar for each $1,000 of tax valuation annually for a period of five years.

If the ordinance is passed within three readings, the city clerk will be directed to certify a copy of the ordinance to the Scioto County Board of Elections. The ordinance then would be posted on the bulletin board in the lobby of the second floor of the Municipal Building, located at 728 Second Street in Portsmouth, for not less than 15 days.