Hudsonhubtimes.com - School Board places levy on spring ballot

by Jennifer Reece

Reporter

Hudson -- The School Board voted 4-1 Feb. 12 to place a 1.5-mill replacement permanent improvement levy on the May 8 ballot.

Board member Ken Claypoole cast the only vote against the legislation.

The five-year, 1.5-mill replacement levy would generate about $1.5 million annually, according to information provided by the district. If the Board had opted to renew the levy, about $1.1 million would be brought in each year, according to District Treasurer Bart Griffith.

The deadline for placing an issue on the May ballot is Feb. 22.

According to information presented Feb. 12, the replacement levy, if approved by the voters, would cost the owner of a $300,000 home about $138 per year, or about $25 more per year than the existing levy. The current permanent improvement levy expires in January 2008.

Prior to the vote, Claypoole and Board member Nancy Terry questioned whether seeking more funds on the heels of passing a 5.5-mill continuous operating levy in November would get a poor reception from the public.

"It's just like a boy crying wolf," Claypoole said. "If we yell it too often, they're not gonna listen."

Board member Bruce Hubach said the public knew that the Board would have a permanent improvement levy on an upcoming ballot. He said during public meetings about the operating levy in the fall of 2006, information about the permanent improvement fund and another levy were discussed.

Board President Wilbur Veith said he didn't think the public would be caught off-guard by another levy.

"I don't think this is going to be a surprise to anybody," Veith said.

However, Claypoole suggested the Board wait until November to place the levy on the ballot.

"May levies fail," Claypoole explained. "November levies pass."

But Griffith said he would advise against waiting until November because if the levy would fail, the district would miss an entire year of collecting permanent improvement funds. Unlike the operating funds, which are used to run the day-to-day operation of the district, permanent improvement funds are used to maintain buildings, infrastructure, vehicles, equipment, grounds and buses.

Board Vice President Gary Mushock also said the district couldn't afford to wait and needed to put the replacement levy on the May ballot.

"We have been cutting and cutting in the school district," Mushock said. "At some point, you have to say that 'we can't bleed anymore.'"

The Board also passed a resolution Feb. 12 to use a minimum of $285,000 annually from the permanent improvement fund for educational computers and technology. Interim Superintendent Jack Thomas said previous cuts within the past few years left the district with little money in the budget for improving technology.

E-mail: JReece@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3145