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Liberty schools chief, group campaign for renewal of levy
By LINDA M. LINONIS
liberty
Signs promoting the township schools’ renewal levy are going up in the community of some 13,500 residents and focus on a zero tax increase.
Voter approval of the levy would extend it for five years, beginning in 2011. The levy, which is for 7.4 mills, will appear on the May 4 ballot.
“It’s maintaining the status quo,” Mark Lucas, schools superintendent, said of the issue.
It would renew an emergency operating levy that is due to expire this year.
“It’s not in any way an increase in taxes,” Lucas said.
Nicholas Ferraro is chairman of the committee promoting passage of the renewal levy. He and his wife, Brenda, have lived in the community for 15 years and have two children in the school system.
Ferraro said Liberty has a good school system and funding plays a key role.
Lucas said that state rates the middle and high schools excellent and the elementary school effective.
Ferraro said the levy committee has a core group, but he urged others to get involved in this grass-roots effort.
The emergency operating levy brings $1.7 million annually. Funds from the levy account for 11 percent of the school district’s budget. This year’s budget is $16,469,227.
Lucas and Ferraro said those funds contribute to the day-to-day operation of the schools.
If the levy would fail to get voter approval, it likely would mean “further reductions” in staff and programs, Lucas said. He said, for example, that a program offered five days a week could be cut to fewer days.
“We’re optimistic that the levy will pass,” Lucas said.
Ferraro said the committee recently had a fundraiser through a local restaurant. Funds are being used for mailings and signs.