For several area school districts, passage of new and renewal levies are crucial to their survival, with some officials concerned voter turnout may be low with the change in the primary election to mail-in ballots during the novel coronavirus outbreak.

LIBERTY

Liberty schools Superintendent Joseph Nohra said the district in Tuesday’s primary election seeks approval of a 2.5-mill, five-year additional levy for general permanent improvements, which Nohra said architects reviewed and said there was a need.

“The roofs, windows and even the parking lots need work. Our infrastructure is aging and needs worked on,” he said.

Nohra said the improvement levy will replace a 4.2-mill, five-year bond issue that expires this year. The bond issue was approved in 1997 and was used to build the high school. It generated approximately $919,000 annually.

To maintain the district’s three school buildings once the bond falls off, the board of education is asking for the levy that will generate $560,000 per year. Taxpayers who own a $100,000 home would pay $87.50 annually with the new levy.

Nohra said everything involved to obtain, complete and return an absentee ballot will discourage voters.

The district’s immediate priorities are updates to building windows, resurfacing the track and adding six buses to the fleet. The long-term priorities involve paving the parking lots, completing the bus fleet, updating the security system, and replacing the boilers and air-conditioning chillers in the high school.

POLAND

Poland schools Superintendent David Janofa said the district seeks approval of a 3.4-mill, five year emergency renewal levy to generate $1.4 million.

“We need the renewal for our day-to-day needs. It will cover equipment, supplies, salaries, repairs and maintenance, and needed purchases,” he said.

Janofa said he too is concerned fewer people are going to vote because of absentee ballots only.

“If it fails and we lose $1.4 million, it will take this district back to the starting block and that scares me,” Janofa said.

If approved the owner of a $100,000 home will pay $104 per year.

HUBBARD

Hubbard schools Superintendent Raymond Soloman said the district is asking voters to support a 4.8-mill renewal levy — originally approved more than 30 years ago — that generates a little more than $1 million a year for day-to-day needs.

He said with the changed primary election date and voting being done by absentee ballot, “Change is always a concern and difficult for everyone, but the Hubbard community has always supported our schools.”

“We have been good stewards of the taxpayers’ money and have been able to keep the schools strong,” he said.

He said he believes the public will vote and support the levy as they have done in prior years.

LORDSTOWN

In Lordstown, the district seeks support of two renewals, and interim Superintendent Lew Lowery said he is not sure what effect the absentee ballot and mail-in voting method will play.

The district has a 6.10-mill, five-year renewal levy that brings in $599,621 and a 5.6-mill, five-year renewal levy that brings in $550,472. The levies combined generate about 23 percent of the district’s operating budget.

Officials said the decline in valuation because of the change in ownership / use at the former General Motors facility likely will result in large property tax revenue losses.

To help save money, Lordstown has worked with other districts on shared-services agreements, including sharing a website with LaBrae, psychology services with Newton Falls and a career-based intervention program with Newton Falls.

School levy requests

Mahoning County

• Poland – A 3.4-mill, five-year renewal levy for emergency requirements

Trumbull County

• Hubbard — A 4.8-mill, five-year renewal levy for emergency requirements

• Liberty — A 2.5-mill, five-year additional levy for general improvements

• Lordstown — A 5.6-mill, five-year renewal levy for emergency requirements

• Lordstown — A 5.1-mill, five-year renewal levy for emergency requirements

• Mathews — A 7.8-mill, five-year renewal levy for current expenses

• Newton Falls — A 4.7-mill, five-year renewal levy for emergency requirements

• Newton Falls — A 6-mill, five-year renewal levy for emergency requirements

• Southington — A 1-mill, five-year additional levy for general improvements for the Chalker Building

SOURCES: County boards of elections

Area schools prepare for vote during coronavirus, mail-in election

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