Lakeview levy passes by 2 votes

Staff report

WARREN

It took eight tries over six years, and this year’s vote was close enough to qualify for an automatic recount, but the Lakeview school district has finally won approval of an additional levy for school operations.

The Trumbull County Board of Elections conducted a recount of one voting precinct Wednesday and found no change in the vote totals, signaling the end of the recounting process and a two-vote approval of the 3.75-mill, 5-year levy on the May 4 ballot.

The levy will raise $1,050,000 annually and will be used to restore busing for high school students, increase the number of stops Lakeview buses will make along their routes, eliminate all student fees, cut pay-to-participate fees in half, purchase textbooks, increase technology capabilities and offset the $125,000 loss in state school funding for the 2010-11 school year.

Superintendent Bob Wilson, who attended the recount with Treasurer Milt Williams, said the school district has lost roughly 30 percent of its revenue as a result of inflation since the last additional money was approved in February 1999.

As a result, the district had to cut costs over the decade, including the closure of the former Cortland Elementary School last year.

Elections board workers recounted the ballots cast in Bazetta Township Precinct F — 331 votes. The elections board was required to recount at least 179 votes, or 5 percent of the total.

The final vote total was 1,786 votes for the levy, 1,784 votes against.