Salem levy stays on books

Voters were supportive despite a problem in the school treasurer's office.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- New textbooks, chairs and desks for pupils are among the items city school district officials will consider buying with money from a permanent improvement levy that voters renewed.
Voters have approved the 2-mill, five-year levy every time it has come up for renewal since it was first adopted in 1983.
The levy's renewal -- which will not raise taxes -- was approved by a margin of 206 votes, or nearly 58 percent of the votes cast, according to unofficial results provided by the Columbiana County elections board.
The measure produces about $380,000 annually for the district.
The money cannot be used for salaries. It must go toward repairs, maintenance and purchas of items that will last at least five years, Superintendent Dr. David Brobeck said.
School officials will meet in coming weeks to review items and tasks that can be funded with the levy.
Textbooks and new classroom furniture for the district's pupils are being considered.
Other possible uses for the money will include keeping the district's computer system updated, Brobeck said. A boiler in one of the schools may need to be replaced, Brobeck said, but he couldn't recall in which school.
Controversy kept separate
Controversy in recent months over the school district's treasurer's office obviously didn't prompt voters to scrap the levy.
"I think people understand" the situation, Brobeck said. "This is a supportive town." Voters "know what the needs are," he added.
Officials from the state auditor's office and the Columbiana County Prosecutor's office are investigating possible illegal activity in the treasurer's office before the resignation in December of former treasurer Ted Cougras.
Cougras resigned without comment after an investigation was launched into treasurer's office activities.
One aspect of the probe is the March 2002 purchase of $781 in office equipment with school district money.
The equipment, an office chair and mats, was delivered to Cougras' Poland home, school officials have said.
He has not been charged with any crime. Cougras has not commented on the matter.
"We know the truth will come out," Brobeck said.
The district has since hired a new treasurer.