Levies deserve the serious consideration of local voters

One of the last things anyone wants to do is ask someone else for money.

And yet, every election day, all over Ohio, someone — elected officials — are asking someone else — taxpayers — for money by putting levies on the ballot.

And in recent years, these requests for funds have become more contentious, a reflection of the tough economic times we’re in.

And every election, Vindicator editors write some form of this editorial urging taxpayers to support the issues facing them when they go to cast their ballots, especially in regard to school levies.

We do this for two reasons. First, we remain convinced that one of the most important investments a society can make is in the education of the next generation. That applies to the full range of education, from pre-school, through elementary and secondary and on into trade school or college.

The levies voters get to vote on apply to elementary and secondary grades and come in three basic varieties, renewal levies for operations, additional levies for operations and bond issues that finance construction of new schools.

Issues listed

These are the specific school issues appearing on the May 4 primary ballot in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

Austintown schools: A $26,682,099, 37-year classroom facilities bond issue that will allow the district to tap into state funds that will cover almost half the cost of new school construction.

Campbell schools: 12-mill, five-year emergency renewal levy.

South Range schools: 3.1-mill, 10-year renewal to avoid an operating deficit.

Lakeview schools: A 3.75-mill additional emergency levy to raise $1,050,000 per year.

Liberty schools: A 7.4-mill renewal emergency levy to raise $1,776,316 per year.

Lordstown schools: A 2-mill additional levy to raise $212,526 per year.

Maplewood schools: A 5.4-mill, 5-year renewal levy for emergency requirements of the district to raise $508,805 per year.

Mathews schools: A 7.8-mill replacement and decrease levy to raise $1,200,435 per year.

Newton Falls schools: A 4.6-mill, 5-year levy for emergency requirements of the district to raise $585,011 per year.

Weathersfield schools: A 3.9-mill emergency renewal to raise $418,128 per yea

The Vindicator endorses these school levies in the belief that the elected boards of education take their responsibilities to students and taxpayers seriously. They do not ask their fellow citizens to vote for new or renewal taxes if they do not believe the revenue those issues produce is absolutely necessary.

Voters throughout Trumbull County are also being asked to renew a 0.75-mill Trumbull County Senior Citizens levy that provides important services or facilities for senior citizens. And in Hubbard, voters are being asked to support a 1.9-mill, continuous levy for the Hubbard Public Library. These are important quality-of-life services that deserve support from residents of all ages.

Also, various communities throughout the area have municipal or township tax issues on their ballots.

Difficult choices

Recognizing that paying taxes can be difficult, even painful, we urge voters in these communities to place a high priority on supporting vital community services, and to resist an urge to make schools or police, fire or road services a scapegoat. There’s a temptation for some to vote against these local taxes because they are among the few taxes that face a direct vote. Whatever short-term satisfaction such a voter gets from casting a nay vote is offset in the long run by loss of vital services and deterioration of the community.

We urge voters to think not only of themselves, but also of their community, and not only of today, but also of tomorrow, when they go to the polls May 4.