Austintown asks voters to OK 4 renewal levies

Struthers voters will be asked to approve new money for the schools.
Austintown voters will have the most tax issues to decide May 2 as four renewal levies appear on the ballot.
Because the levies are renewals they would not raise taxes, but would maintain current revenues.
Two of those levies are for the schools, another is for roads, and the last is for parks and recreation.
In the school district, officials are hoping for passage of two five-year renewals: a 4.9-mill levy and a 7.3-mill levy, which together will raise $5.2 million.
Superintendent Doug Heuer has said that just because of inflation and rising fuel costs, the district has to cut $1 million from its budget next year.
He said that without passage of the renewals, the district will have to cut an additional $2.6 million for 2007 and $5.2 million for 2008.
The school board decided not to ask for additional tax increases in the hopes the community will maintain what the district already has.
Austintown trustees also are hoping the community passes a 1-mill, five-year renewal for streets, roads and bridges that raises $313,532 annually.
A 0.8-mill, five-year renewal raises $299,218 a year for parks.
Trustees had debated whether to ask voters to approve a police levy but like the school board, they opted to ask only to maintain current revenues.
Other communities
In Struthers, the school board is asking voters to pass a 6.9-mill, five-year additional levy to raise $1,058,057 annually, beginning in 2007.
The levy was defeated in November 2005.
In Jackson and Milton townships, voters will not be asked to pass a 3.85-mill permanent improvement levy.
The Jackson-Milton school board decided in March to pull the levy off the ballot because property reassessments raised people's taxes.
The school board had planned to ask for the levy to help generate money for a new high/middle school.
Other issues on the ballot include:
Craig Beach, a 1.5-mill, five-year additional levy for operating purposes to raise $28,080 annually.
Green Township, a 1.5-mill, five-year replacement levy for current expenses to raise $110,408 annually.
Poland Township, a 2-mill, five-year renewal levy for current operating expenses to raise $185,613 annually.
Poland schools, a 3.7-mill, five-year renewal levy for emergency requirements to raise $1,369,748 annually.
Sebring, a 1-mill, five-year additional levy for recreational purposes to raise $50,777 annually.
Sebring schools, a 1 percent income tax for five years to raise $390,000 annually.