Ottawa Hills schools to seek 5.7-mill levy

7/2/2004

The Ottawa Hills Board of Education yesterday voted to seek a 5.7-mill levy on this November's ballot for operating expenses for the school system.

Superintendent Gail Mirrow said the district will face a shortfall of about $800,000 in the coming fiscal year because of a decrease in revenue and an increase in expenses.

Passage of the measure should bring the district about $1 million, she added.

An operating levy of 1.9 mills was passed by voters in 2001.

John Lewis, a school board member, said that measure was for less money because, at the time, there was an increase in funding from the state.

Mr. Lewis said that historically, the school district has sought passage of an operating levy of about 6 mills every three years.

Mrs. Mirrow said the school system has experienced a decrease in funding from the state and that collections from real estate taxes have been essentially flat for two years.

Increases in expenses have generally occurred because of inflationary pressures, the superintendent added.

School officials said if the levy is approved, it would cost the owner of a $250,000 house about $435 more annually.