Austintown treasurer cites need for school levy

AUSTINTOWN — The board of education said Monday that the district won’t be able to operate effectively without the passage Nov. 4 of a 4.9-mill school levy.

The board had a work session before its regular meeting to discuss a proposed five-year forecast put together by Treasurer Barb Kliner.

The forecast is based on 4.4 of the 4.9 mills the district would receive if the levy is approved by voters.

Because of decreasing revenue and increasing expenses over the next five years, Kliner said passing the levy is the only way to keep the Austintown schools out of financial crisis. The measure would bring $2,959,731 annually into the district.

Kliner explained the district spent $236,000 more than it received in fiscal year 2008 — and used money carried over from past years to stay in the black.

Now, Kliner said, the 2009-10 fiscal year will put Austintown more than $2.5 million in the red without the new money.

“The deficit will continue to grow,” Kliner said. “It’ll be enough to cover payroll, and then we’ll have nothing left.”

read more in Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com