Voters approve majority of levies

The Champion school board faces a $600,000 deficit by year's end.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Concern about the economic future of two of Trumbull County's largest employers didn't play a role in voters' support of school issues.
School leaders had generally believed that people are nervous about Delphi Packard Electric Systems' filing for bankruptcy and reductions in benefits for General Motors Corp. workers.
But in Lordstown, two levies were approved on Tuesday's ballot that will generate a total $1,611,327 annually, which represents 27 percent of the district's revenue.
One was a 6.2-mill emergency levy that will raise $841,327 annually, and the other was a 5.7-mill tax to avoid an operating deficit with the $770,000 it will generate.
The district has worked its way out of a $1.4 million deficit that resulted in the state's placing the district in fiscal emergency in 2001. It was removed from fiscal emergency in 2003.
Timothy Rech, Lordstown school board president, said the issue passed because voters know the board has been capable of maintaining services.
In Bristol
Voters in the Bristol district, which is in fiscal emergency, approved a 2.5-mill, five year renewal for permanent improvements to school buildings and to purchase buses. It will bring in $106,642 annually.
"I'm so glad," said board President Maggie Berwald, who suffered a re-election loss.
Berwald said the stress on the two major corporations in the county had a negative effect on voters.
"People are not willing to part with their money anymore," Berwald said, despite the levy's passage.
In Hubbard, a 5.2-mill, five year emergency renewal was passed by 67.9 percent. It will generate $1,047,214 annually.
Superintendent Richard Buchenic said the people in Hubbard always support the schools.
He said Delphi and GM were a concern, but the levy was a renewal and doesn't mean more taxes for voters.
In McDonald, 57.3 percent of voters approved a 4.9-mill continuing replacement levy.
It replaces a 2-mill levy and will bring $248,462 a year into the district.
Defeat in Brookfield
Brookfield voters turned away a 7-mill, five-year new emergency levy to raise $919,425 a year.
The levy would have allowed the district to retain all-day kindergarten, a low student-teacher ratio and to update its curriculum and technology.
The Brookfield issue was defeated by 62.2 percent of voters.
In Champion, voters rejected an 8.1-mill, five-year additional emergency levy that would have generated $1,305,648 per year.
Asked about the effect of Delphi and GM, Superintendent Pamela Hood responded, "The people knew what was on the line. They made their decision."
Champion will face a $600,000 deficit by year's end.
The board will meet soon to decide when the levy will return to the ballot.
In Maplewood, 58 percent of voters rejected a 6.9-mill, five-year additional emergency levy that would have generated $558,900 a year.
yovich@vindy.com