For some levies, 1st no isn’t final

At least two school districts plan to place their levy on the ballot again in August.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — For most school districts and municipalities with repeat levies on the ballot this week, a second or third try was not the charm needed to convince voters.

Ten levies rejected in November, ranging from a 9.5-mill tax proposal for the Youngstown City Schools to a 1.25-mill emergency services levy in Liberty Township, were put before voters Tuesday with mixed results.

The Youngstown schools had already seen voters turn down the 9.5-mill, five-year levy — twice. Tuesday’s rejection makes it three, rejected by district voters with a majority vote of 52 percent.

Shelley Murray, Youngstown school board president, said it is too early to discuss additional cuts. But she said the district must have additional funds.

“We will be going back in the general election. We will have to have a meeting to see where we are at, where we will be next year and determine the millage needed,” she said.

Springfield Local School District saw rejected a 7.3-mill combination tax levy/bond issue for school construction, facilities maintenance and remodeling and refurnishing school buildings.

The district tried to persuade voters to pass the levy with more home visits and a more detailed campaign aimed at educating voters on exactly why the funds are needed. The district had planned to close the elementary and high school, replace the high school and expand the current middle school to house kindergarten through the sixth grade.

The Springfield levy request failed with a majority vote of 53 percent. School officials could not be reached Wednesday.

Two Trumbull County townships did find success in their second attempts: Liberty and Bazetta both saw levies for emergency services pass by a majority of 58 percent and 52 percent, respectively.

Liberty again asked voters to approve a 1.25-mill, five-year operating levy for 911 emergency services. Bazetta asked voters to approve a 2-mill, five-year levy for fire protection services.

Bazetta Trustee Michael Piros said trustees are excited about the passage, but realize that the funds will not be collected until 2009. He said trustees will be meeting soon to discuss how the township will make it through the remainder of 2008.

Piros credits a much higher voter turnout in Tuesday’s primary along with mailings to township residents explaining the need for the levy for the different outcome.

Liberty Police Chief Anthony Slifka said much clearer language on Tuesday’s ballot and a clear explanation of the need for the levy to the community helped win voter support. Many said the language on the ballot in November had been vague and hard to understand.

“The topics we discussed caused the residents to respond. They realized this is all for their safety. I wish I could hug all 2,963 people who voted in favor of this,” he said.

Slifka said the department has enough funds to function without changes until 2009 when the levy funds will be collected.

Four Trumbull County school districts — Jackson-Milton, Joseph Badger, Lordstown and Southington — placed repeat levies on Tuesday’s ballot. Only Joseph Badger School District’s request for a 3.75-mill, five-year operating levy renewal was approved.

Five Badger pupils, guided by two adults, put together a campaign to get the levy passed, organizing a voter registration drive, printing a parent newsletter and district flier and putting up yard signs. They also spoke to booster and PTO groups.

The levy was approved by 56 percent of voters.

Jackson-Milton Treasurer John Zinger said district officials are making plans for the immediate future in light of the two-time failure of a 5.6-mill, five-year levy designed to avoid an operating deficit of $988,485. It was rejected by a 66-percent majority.

Voters, however, will likely see the issue on the ballot again.

“We are going to make adjustments in personnel, that is what we are looking at right now,” said Zinger.

“We are also going to look at placing the levy back on the ballot in August. We have to.”

Lordstown voters decided to again reject a 5-mill, continuing levy to update an existing building and close another. Officials said the move would save taxpayers about $200,000 annually. It was defeated by a 56-percent majority.

Voters in the Southington School District for a second time rejected a 3.15-mill, three-year renewal levy and 1-mill, five-year levy the district planned to use for permanent improvements. Those levies were defeated by 58-percent and 67-percent majority votes, respectively.