Attendance at levy event doesn't mean support, Schiavoni says

NORTH LIMA

Ohio Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni said his appearance at a pro-South Range school levy event doesn’t mean-he’s taking a position on the tax measure.

“I understand it can be construed that way,” said Schiavoni, D-33rd, of Boardman.

“I’m going to talk about state school funding,” he added. “I’d be happy to go to any of these events, including those who don’t support the levy, to talk to constituents about the problems with school funding.”

Schiavoni, who represents Mahoning and Columbiana counties in the state Senate, will speak at a Citizens for South Range Schools event at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Old South Range High School auditorium on state Route 164.

“State funding has been inadequate at the state level, and that’s why you see more tax levies,” Schiavoni said. “I’m not there to advocate for or against the levy. I’m there just to talk about state funding and how it hurts schools.”

The school district has a 4.9-mill, 3-year additional levy on the May 5 ballot.

Read more of the story in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.