SPRINGBORO — After a two-day delay, the Springboro school board voted on Thursday, July 15, to put a five- year, 6.83-mill emergency levy on November ballots.
By a 4-1 vote, the board approved putting a levy, which would raise $5.9 million a year and cost property owners $209 for every $100,000 of valuation, on the Nov. 2 ballot.
On Tuesday, the board delayed a decision on whether to ask voters for another tax levy so members could study levy options.
After reviewing options, such as an earned-income tax, the board approved the identical emergency property tax levy on Thursday that was tabled Tuesday.
“Stop the drama. Stop the in-fighting. Do what is right for this community,” Tamara Hawes, a mom with two children in the district, said before the vote.
District voters have rejected four consecutive levies for new operating money, most recently by 111 votes in May 2009.
Board Member Don Miller said the board needs to give voters a chance to approve the proposed levy, but that cuts are expected in the next five years even if it passes.
While approving the levy, Board Member Scott Anderson said he favored a larger tax, perhaps a continuing levy, to eliminate the need for future cuts to sustain the level of services.
