Liberty, Hubbard school districts seek levy renewals

March 5, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Two Trumbull County school districts have placed levy renewals on the March 15 ballot.

Because both measures are renewals of existing levies, passage will not create any new taxes, officials said.

Liberty Local Schools seek a five-year renewal of 3.4-mill emergency levy. The levy, which is expected to generate $740,680 annually, costs the owner of $100,000 home $119 a year.

The district, which employs 165 people, has appropriated $17,606,000 for the total budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year.

Treasurer Bradley Panak said the levy is necessary to comply with emergency requirements and to avoid an operating deficit.

The state auditor placed Liberty Local Schools in fiscal emergency in 2011. The district shed that designation in 2014.

Liberty voters approved the five-year renewal of a 7.75-mill school levy in 2015.

The Hubbard Exempted Village School District also is seeking to renew a levy.

The five-year, 5.8-mill levy is projected to bring in $1,218,709 a year.

The levy will cost the owner of a $100,000 home $203 a year.

The Hubbard district employs 226 people and has appropriated $22,345,600 for the total budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year.

Superintendent Raymond Soloman said income from the levy will allow “us to continue to keep a rich learning environment with highly qualified teachers.”

Hubbard voters approved the renewal of a five-year, 4.9-mill school levy in 2015.

Five-year financial forecasts for all Ohio public schools are available on the Ohio Department of Education website.