Voters support levies in two school districts

Struthers officials hope levy passage will ease a fiscal emergency.
YOUNGSTOWN -- School levies in two Mahoning County districts appeared to be passing at press time.
Austintown voters, who had the most tax issues, appeared to be passing both school and township levies.
Two of the levies were for the schools, another for roads and the last for parks and recreation.
In the school district, officials sought 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 said 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.
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, opted to ask only to maintain current revenues.
Struthers
In Struthers, David Barone, board president, said he was optimistic with the incomplete returns.
"It looks pretty promising," he said. "I'm optimistic. People did a lot of work this time. We're in fiscal emergency. The state is looking at the books. A win will help ease that situation."
The school board sought a 6.9-mill, five-year additional levy to raise $1,058,057 annually, beginning in 2007.
The levy was defeated in November 2005.