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Hubbard council passes resolution in support of school levy
By Sarah Lehr
HUBBARD
City council supports a new 10-year, 7.1-mill emergency operating levy for the Hubbard School District.
Council, by a 6-0 vote Monday, approved a nonbinding resolution supporting the tax issue. Council President William Williams Sr. and Councilman Justin Silvidi, D-4th, were absent.
If approved by voters in November, the levy would generate $1.44 million annually for the district and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $248.50 each year, according to the Trumbull County Auditor’s Office.
Hubbard resident Dave Bailey, chairman of a committee in support of the levy, said the tax is necessary to offset state funding cuts.
“The winds from Columbus reached our district about four years ago,” Bailey said. “Ever since, they’ve been in a constant belt-tightening mode.”
He added, “I think [the district] has gone a long way toward tightening its belt, but you can only tighten so far.”
The district has reduced spending by renegotiating service contracts and eliminating 23 staff positions through attrition since 2010, according to the levy committee.
In other business, council authorized the board of control to enter into a $71,777 contract with CR Electric Inc. of Girard to convert lighting at the wastewater treatment plant to LED technology.
The Hubbard Area Chamber of Commerce’s Community Fun Day will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday at Save-a-Lot Plaza on West Liberty Street. The band Guys Without Ties will perform starting at 3:30 p.m., and a fireworks display will start at 8 p.m.
Service Director Daniel Livingston said a balloon artist no longer will plan to dress as a clown due to recent concerns. Reports of people being chased by clowns have gained national media attention this fall.