Officials explain reasons for having levy on ballot

A board member said cost-cutting moves would affect the quality of education.
CORTLAND -- Residents attending a levy meeting were told that Lakeview schools need more money, despite a 130-pupil decline in the past five years, to deal with increasing costs and to maintain the district's appeal to people moving into the area.
Officials explained the five-year, 4.5-mill additional levy to a crowd of more than 50 residents who attended the special board of education session Wednesday at Lakeview High School. Voters will be asked Tuesday to approve the measure to generate about $1,145,245 annually.
In the past five years, the board has adjusted for the reduction in enrollment by reducing staff and cutting bus routes, but school leaders say the money saved still isn't enough to maintain a high-quality education for Lakeview pupils.
Board member Larry Swiger said the only ways the board could have saved more money over the past five years would have hurt the quality of education and damaged the appeal of the Lakeview school district to people looking to relocate to the area.
"It would be easy to take out all athletics and all arts programs, but that is why people are coming here," Swiger said.
District officials have said that Lakeview will be in debt if the levy fails.
Rising health-care costs
In 2002, health-care costs for Lakeview schools increased by more than $200,000, officials also noted.
One person was concerned over the board's naming the levy an "emergency" and asked if the board intended to make it permanent.
The board answered that when that five years is up, residents would have an opportunity to vote for it again.
Although no one bashed the idea of a levy, some were disturbed by its timing.
A steel worker said that besides there being a lot of elderly people who don't have children living in the Lakeview school district, many people have either lost their jobs or are in danger of losing their jobs.
"I work in a steel mill that is currently in bankruptcy and you want me to come up with another 100-and-some dollars?" he asked.
Officials acknowledged his concern by saying that the Lakeview schools are asking for support, not telling people to vote for the levy.