B.G. school board seeks operating levy in Nov.

7/29/2010

BOWLING GREEN — The Bowling Green school board voted 5-0 Wednesday to place a $1 million emergency operating levy on the November ballot.

School superintendent Hugh Caumartin said the board had considered a 1.6-mill levy that would generate $1 million a year and a 2-mill levy that would bring in $1.25 million a year before deciding on the smaller issue, which would run for five years.

“It's a stop-gap measure,” he said. “Right now, what we're hoping is that the economy turns around and some of the dire predictions people are making regarding state funding for education do not come to fruition. This [levy] will allow us to get one more year — through fiscal year 2012 — without a deficit.”

In May, district voters agreed to renew a 4.2-mill, five-year operating levy that generates about $2.5 million a year. Mr. Caumartin said the board has implemented $500,000 in cuts for the coming school year.