Warren school officials ask for 10-year levy renewal this time instead of 5 years

Staff report

WARREN

Voters in the Warren school district will be asked Nov. 5 to renew a 10-mill operating levy first approved in 1994. It has been renewed three times for five years, but school officials want it extended 10 years this time.

The levy raises $3.9 million annually and costs the owner of a $100,000 home $306.25 per year.

The reason school officials are trying for a 10-year renewal this time instead of five years is because the district also has a 4.95-mill levy that expires in 2017, and they don’t want it and this levy to come one year after the other, said Angela Lewis, school district treasurer.

“It’s nice to have some years where you don’t have to go to the voters for anything,” said Michael Notar, Warren superintendent.

Voters have been approving the 10-mill levy for 20 years, so it seemed to make sense to make it last 10 years this time, Lewis said.

If the levy fails, the district will be short $3.9 million, Lewis said.

“Cost-cutting measures would need to be instituted immediately, and there could be an impact on the variety of educational programs provided by the district,” she said.

The result of a failed renewal levy would be “diminishing economic growth, even fewer employment opportunities, greater reliance on public-assistance programs and a decrease in home values,” according to a brochure published by the school district.

“However, the voters of Warren City School District have always been extremely supportive of the district and passed renewals and bond issues on the first try,” Lewis said. “We are appreciative of this fact and retain a positive outlook on the levy results.”

The levy is not related to the construction project that brought the district new buildings. By law, money received for school construction can be used only for construction, the brochure says.