MCDONALD No raise in taxes with levy

Renewal of a permanent improvement levy will provide a dedicated source of revenue to maintain new buildings, officials said.
By MARY R. SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
McDONALD -- Renewal of a 2.95-mill, five-year permanent improvement school levy that will go before voters here on the May 8 primary election ballot would not mean an increase in taxes.
The levy is expected to generate about $58,000 annually for the McDonald Local School System and has been used by the district for the past several years to maintain facilities.
The issue costs the owner of a $100,000 home approximately $40 a year, school Treasurer Thomas Radabaugh said.
Use of funds: None of the proceeds of the measure have gone toward teachers salaries or benefits, Radabaugh said. The measure was originally passed in 1986 for 2 mills. This would be the third renewal.
School Superintendent Robert Bloniarz has noted that renewal of the levy will not increase taxes.
With upcoming construction totaling $16.5 million for a new elementary school and renovations to the high school, funded largely by a grant from the Ohio School Facilities Commission and a 2-mill bond issue from local voters, the renewal of the permanent improvement levy will provide a constant source of revenue to help maintain the new and remodeled facilities, officials said.
Radabaugh added: "Although we will be getting a new grade school and renovated high school through the $16.7 million facilities grant, we still have to maintain those new facilities and have a dedicated funding source. ... the permanent improvement levy is vital."
The new grade school construction and renovations to the high school are both expected to be completed by August 2002.
The funds from the permanent improvement levy since 1986 have gone to maintenance of facilities. Radabaugh said the district has had a total of about $900,000 in that period to sink into repairs of school buildings.
Where money went: He said these funds have helped to:
*Make a quarter-million dollars in repairs to roofs on the high school and Roosevelt Elementary School;
*Upgrade and repair windows at the high school, including in the library and the administrative offices, for well over $100,000;
*Repair or replace electrical wiring, lights, plumbing and steam lines used for heating.