Akron Ohio News - School issues dominate Special Election ballot

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School issues dominate Special Election ballot

4/23/2009 - South Side Leader

By Maria Lindsay

Green, Manchester, Northwest districts seeking levy passage May 5

SOUTH SUMMIT — Local voters will be asked to support school issues on the May 5 Special Election ballot.

The Green Local School District is asking voters to approve Issue No. 12, a new five-year, 5.97-mill emergency levy needed to address increasing operating costs and a projected $4 million deficit for next school year, according to district officials.

The levy would raise $4.2 million annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $182.50 annually in new property taxes and the owner of a $200,000 home about $365 in new taxes, according to district Treasurer Roy Swartz.

Collections for the levy would commence in the last half of 2009 and would appear on a homeowner’s tax bill in 2010.

District officials have pledged to adopt about $2 million in cuts for the 2009-10 school year to address the projected deficit and are currently reviewing a number of areas where those cuts may be made.

For more details about the levy, visit www.greenforkids .org/.

Voters living in the Manchester Local School District will see two issues on the ballot.

Issue No. 13 is a 28-year, $26.6 million bond issue, averaging 8.46 mills, and a continuing tax levy of 0.5 mill. The revenue from the bond issue would be used to construct two new buildings, including one for students in prekindergarten through sixth grades, and one for students in seventh through 12th grades. The revenue also would fund two extra kindergarten classrooms and relocate some athletic fields.

The Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) has offered to pay 43 percent of the cost, or $19.7 million, to build the new facilities. The community has to contribute the remaining 57 percent, or $26.6 million, which would come from the bond issue.

The bond issue is expected to cost the owner of a $100,000 home $274.18 annually, according to district Treasurer David Osborne. The cost for the owner of a $118,400 home — the median price in New Franklin — would be $324.60 annually.

Osborne added the 0.5-mill continuing tax levy is required by the OSFC to ensure funds are available for operating and maintenance of the new buildings.

It will collect $96,144 annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $15.30 annually.

Collections would start in the last half of 2009 and appear on a tax bill in 2010.

District officials decided to construct the new buildings after a review of current facilities by Ohio Department of Education officials showed it would be more cost effective to build new than to renovate.

Manchester voters also are being asked to approve Issue No. 14 — a renewal of the district’s five-year, 6.9-mill operating levy, with collections to start in 2009 and appearing on tax bills in 2010. The issue is not a tax increase for homeowners, according to district officials.

Voters first approved the issue in 1989. The levy is used for general operations and collects $658,055 annually, according to Osborne. He said the revenue represents 5 percent of the district’s general fund, which is used for salaries, utilities and extracurricular activities.

Also on the ballot for two precincts in New Franklin is Issue No. 15, a new 10-year, 12.9-mill emergency levy request by the Northwest Local School District.

The levy would raise $3.4 million annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $396 annually in new taxes.

Collections for the levy would begin in the last half of 2009 and appear on 2010 tax bills.

According to Northwest District Treasurer Dan Levengood, the issue has come before voters with various millage rates 10 times starting in November 2005, and has failed to get the support needed to pass.

The district was placed in the Fiscal Caution category by the state in July 2008 and adopted $1.5 million in cuts to end the year in the black. Northwest also is looking at making $1.3 million in cuts for the 2009-10 school year if the levy does not pass.

The polls will be open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, May 5.

Voters also will be able to vote in advance on an absentee ballot for any reason through May 4 at 4:30 p.m. at the Summit County Board of Elections, 470 Grant St. in Downtown Akron.

Mail-in applications for absentee voting must be received at the Board of Elections by noon May 2. All absentee ballots must be returned to the Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

For details, call (330) 653-5200 or visit www.summitcountyboe.com to download an absentee application.

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