Youngstown schools to ask for levy renewal, despite objection

YOUNGSTOWN

City school district voters will be asked in November to renew a levy that generates about $5.3 million annually for the schools.

The city school board approved a resolution 6-1 Tuesday to submit the tax levy to voters. Board member Jackie Adair was opposed.

“All data indicates Youngstown is shrinking,” she said. “The property tax base is shrinking. A small part of the community will pay this. Not even everyone on this board will have to pay this property tax.”

The resolution will be submitted to the Mahoning County Auditor’s office, which will determine the millage. The school board then will vote on a second resolution to submit the renewal to the county elections board to place it on the November ballot. That resolution is expected to come before the board at its May 26 meeting.

District Treasurer James Reinhard said it’s critical that the levy be renewed.

In other business, board members recognized Cindy Johnson, who was selected 2015 Teacher of the Year for the district from among 15 nominees.

“Each and every one of them could have been the teacher of the year,” Filipovich said.

Read more about the levy, and the nominees in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.