Schools
School Board Debates How to Juggle New, Renewal Levies
Quirk in Ohio law means officials have to decide November ballot issues before August election
The Strongsville School Board has voted to put a and a 6-mill renewal levy on the November ballot.
But it's not what it looks like: Both will not appear on the fall ballot, board members stressed.
In fact, neither might. But due to a quirk in Ohio law, schools must decide now -- before the fate of the new 6.9-mill levy slated for a vote Aug. 2 is known -- what issues might appear before voters in November.
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The district will decide which -- if either -- will stay on the ballot after learning the results of the 6.9-mill issue at the August special election.
"I think we owe it to the district to preserve out options," board member Dave Gusman said.
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The options:
• If the 6.9-mill, four-year levy passes at the polls Aug. 2, the district would immediately take the issue off the November ballot.
• If the 6.9-mill levy fails in August, the issue is in position to appear on the November ballot. Officials could put it before voters again then, or could pull it off the ballot till 2012.
• A 6-mill renewal levy last approved in 2006 is expiring at the end of 2012. School officials said they may want to put it before voters this November to give the district as many chances as possible to get it approved.
One thing that will not happen is for both levies to be on the November ballot, where Superintendent Jeff Lampert said they would "compete" for votes.
"I am not in favor of having two (levies) on," board member Ruth Brickley said.
And Board President Jennifer Sinisgalli said she isn't sure she wants to have the renewal on this fall regardless of whether the new issue passes in August.
Once the fate of the 6.9-mill levy is known Aug. 3, the board will have a firmer grasp of how to proceed in November, Gusman said.
Board member said they're optimistic about the 6.9-mill issue, which would generate about $10 million a year for four years, passing.
"I've been going door-to-door in my neighborhood . . and I've been getting a pretty good reaction," board member Carl Naso said.
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