[ back ]
5-year West G levy approved for vote
(by Sue Hoffman - July 28, 2011)
5-year West G levy approved for vote
By SUE HOFFMAN
The West Geauga School Board voted Monday to put a five-year, 0.95-mill permanent improvement levy on the Nov. 8 ballot. The levy would be used for school facility maintenance and repair.
The board also approved an agreement for a contract extension with West Geauga Education Association, which represents teachers, to freeze salaries, including base salaries and steps, for two years beginning next summer.
The votes for the levy and teacher's contract were 4-0, with approval by board president William Beers and board members Dean Patterson, Sally Gillmore and Michael Kilroy. Ben Pintabona was absent from the meeting.
The levy resolution was to be submitted this week to the Geauga County Board of Elections, school district Treasurer Michele Tullai said.
The board decided not to pursue the renewal of a five-year emergency operating levy at this time. Last month, the board had submitted a resolution of necessity to the Geauga County Auditor's Office for both the permanent-improvement levy and the operating levy renewal.
"We have all of next year to pass it," Mrs. Tullai said about the operating levy, which generates $3.7 million a year. "The renewal has to be passed in 2012 to collect in 2013."
"There are real advantages to getting the renewal behind us," Mr. Beers said. However, he said, one of the questions voters have been asking the board is, "'Why are you trying to pass levies before you need to?'"
The 0.95-mill permanent improvement levy, which would raise $631,480 annually, would cost homeowners $29 per year for each $100,000 of property valuation. It would be up for renewal in five years.
"We did hear that the continuing nature of the permanent improvement levy was not being supported," Mr. Beers said about the previous permanent improvement levy, which was defeated by 54 percent of voters in May. "This one is five years rather than continuous. We think that will make a difference for some voters."
In addition to the May levy, a 28-year 1.12-mill bond issue for facility maintenance was defeated by 55 percent of the voters last November. The bond issue would have cost homeowners $34 per year for each $100,000 of property valuation.
One of the main problems facing the district right now involves leaky roofs, Mr. Beers said. "If you don't fix them now, they will be more expensive to fix. We'll look at the list (of facility repairs) and again prioritize them." He said roof replacement and repair constitute a large part of the district's facility needs.
Mr. Beers said facility issues will be apparent to parents who come into the buildings. "We need to have more of the community understand what the issues are."
The new teachers' contract extension begins after the current contract concludes June 30, 2012, school officials said. The current contract provides for the 2011-2012 school year, an increase of 2 percent and a step for those who qualify.
"After that, it is a total freeze for two years," Mr. Beers said. Even those who receive a master's degree or other education that qualifies them for an increase during the freeze will have to wait until after the contract extension to see an increase, he said.
"We are working to contain costs where we think we can," Mr. Beers said. "We have teachers working with us on that."
[ back ]
