School renewals up, new money down

LIMA - Voters around the region were open to supporting schools when it wouldn't cost them any more money, but not so generous with giving up additional funds Tuesday.

Renewal levies did well Tuesday, including Lima schools, where 63 percent approved a five-year, 1.89 mill renewal for operating expenses. It raises $625,000 a year.

"This is a great evening for all of Lima," Superintendent Karel Oxley said. "We are extremely appreciative of the community because it does say that they do recognize and value the work that the staff and students of Lima City Schools are doing."

Requests for new money had a much tougher time. For Upper Scioto Valley schools, Tuesday's 61 percent defeat of a 1 percent income tax is the sixth straight time voters have rejected a request for new money. A renewal passed in March.

"We knew under these economic conditions that it would be tough to pass," said Superintendent Nancy Wood Allison.

The levy, which would have raised $605,000 a year, would have helped the district bring back some positions previously cut.

Ottoville schools hoped for a 0.75 percent income tax to keep the district from having a negative cash balance in 2011. Fifty-five percent said no. The board will look at going back on the ballot in either February or May, Superintendent Scott Mangas said.

"And the board will be sitting down to look at cuts that they can make that don't affect academics," he said, adding that he's not sure why the levy failed.

Leipsic voters approved a renewal property tax for operations, but wouldn't vote for a new 0.25 percent income tax for permanent improvements. The money was needed to make sure the district can complete its building project. It failed by 63 percent. Superintendent Alice Dewar said the district will go back and re-examine its plan.

Two other building projects appeared on Tuesday's ballot. Sixty-three percent of Ottawa voters approved a levy to build two new elementary schools. Other than a small permanent-improvement cost, the yes vote is not costing residents any more money thanks to how the district structured bonds after a previous bond request.

As of press time, it looked as if Vantage Career Center would pass a replacement levy for operations, but a request for 1.2 mills to renovate and expand its building would go down. Superintendent Staci Kaufman will ask the board to consider going back to voters in February.

"This project is extremely important because we are out of space in our building and we are not up to handicapped accessibility," she said. "The need is there and the expense of construction is going to continue to go up."

Voters also approved renewal requests for Shawnee and Van Wert operating costs, and Continental, Waynesfield-Goshen and Lincolnview permanent improvements. Ada voters supported a replacement levy for permanent improvements. Minster voters approved a renewal to maintain its park.

Van Wert Superintendent Ken Amstutz said the 1 percent income tax renewal approved by 59 percent of voters will keep the district from having to make cuts.

"This was very vital for us moving forward as a school district," he said. "We were taking several steps back and now we can move forward, put this behind us and do some other things."

Several voters said they were concerned about what might happen if renewal levies failed, including Cherry Goston, whose son is a sophomore at Lima Senior High School. Jenny Thines said she usually votes for Lima schools' levies no matter what, but admitted she was glad it was just a renewal.

"Kids' education is the most important. That is our future," she said. "Since it was no extra money that was a big drawing point for this time. Things are tight right now."

In the District 1 state school board seat, Shawnee school board member Ann Jacobs looked to be defeating Van Wert High School teacher Tracey Smith. At press time, Jacobs had won 52 percent of the vote.