Lima board talks to turn to renewal levies

LIMA - Just when they finished talking about one levy, Lima school board members are beginning to have to talk about another.

Treasurer Ryan Stechschulte asked the board Thursday to begin thinking about the 1.87 mill emergency levy that expires at the end of the year. It raises $625,000 a year for the district.

The district also has a 5 mill levy that expires at the end of 2009. It raises $1.6 million. Stechschulte asked the board to consider combining the two levies. It would not increase the amount the levies would generate, he said.

Board President Sandra Monfort asked that the pros and cons of combining the levies be put in writing before the board continues discussions. Monfort said even though combining the levies would save the money of going on the ballot twice, she has concerns about how it would appear to the public.

"We can't afford to lose these levies," she said.

The board has until Aug. 21 before having to file with the county board of elections to get on the November ballot.

Stechschulte also told the board that state law now allows districts to put an emergency levy on for up to 10 years. The two levies are both currently for five years. Stechschulte's preference is to put it on for 10 years.

Combing the two and the length will both be part of upcoming focus group discussions. The district hired a company to run focus groups on levy issues. The money came from private funds.

"We'll discuss it with them so we can have community input," he said.

The board recently decided to not go back to voters for new money this year. Two levy defeats have been followed by reductions.