Five school-levy renewals in Valley deserve support

Many VOTERS IN THE MAHONING Valley may be somewhat surprised by what they do not see this month on their primary election ballots: appeals from school districts for operating revenue. In fact, only five school systems of some four dozen of them in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties have school tax issues on the March 15 ballot. None seeks additional tax revenue.

The dearth of school levies this election cycle continues a trend over the past few years of fewer and fewer public school systems seeking ballot access to ask their benefactors to open their wallets a little wider for additional property or income-tax dollars.

It also comes at a time when more and more additional tax levies have been deep-sixed by voters. In 2014, for example, only 29 percent of all levies for additional taxation won voter approval in Ohio, compared with an 89-percent approval rate for districts seeking only renewal levies.

It appears then as if many school districts have gotten the message that taxpayers are holding public school systems increasingly accountable to run a tight financial ship, and school districts are responding by working more carefully to live within their means before launching campaigns for more local revenue.

URGENT, UNDERSTANABLE PLEAS

Nonetheless, school districts cannot be expected to maintain quality educational environments if their budgets face marked declines in operating revenue.

That is why the pleas of five school districts in the Valley with renewal levies on the ballot this month are understandable and urgent. Those districts are Poland, Liberty, Howland, Hubbard and Mathews. No school district in Columbiana County has a levy on the ballot.

The Vindicator therefore encourages voters in those districts to heed the pleas and vote yes, a vote that will result in no new taxes for residents but greater financial and academic stability for cash-strapped districts.

Though we can understand that the lingering effects of the Great Recession continue to give budgetary pause to many Mahoning Valley taxpayers, maintaining at least a status-quo investment in public schools demonstrates a commitment to the next generation and represents a solid investment in shoring up real-estate values throughout our community.

The quality of a school district, after all, reflects greatly upon the quality of all property in its proximity.

Of course, news this year that state funding for public education has increased might invite some second thoughts about voting yes. Voters, however, should not be dissuaded from continuing their same amount of local support. After all, no district will profit from a windfall boost to make up for years of state-aid retrenchment; others are staying flat while some actually are witnessing the decline in state aid continue.

In the Poland district, for example, Treasurer Donald Stanovcak said renewal of 3.6 mills for five more years will simply enable the excellently rated district “to continue with the operations as we have been.”

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

Similar pitches can be heard in Liberty, Howland and Mathews.

Additionally, every school tax issue is placed on the ballot by elected members of a community’s school board. Voters elect people to their boards of education expecting them to protect everyone’s best interest. Most board members invest considerable time and energy in doing their jobs, and no longer return lightly to the electorate with a request for passage of a tax levy. The absence of additional tax levies on this month’s ballots illustrates as much.

Here is an alphabetical listing of school district renewal levies on the March 15 ballot in our region. We endorse each of them:

Poland Local Schools: 3.6-mill, 5-year renewal levy for emergency requirements.

Howland Local Schools: A 1-mill, continuous renewal levy for general permanent improvements

Hubbard Exempted Village Schools: A 5.8-mill, 5-year renewal levy for emergency requirements

Liberty Local Schools: A 3.4-mill, 5-year renewal levy for the emergency requirements

Mathews Local Schools: A 4.55-mill, 5-year renewal levy for emergency requirements