School levies find favor in region

Perrysburg, Anthony Wayne among winners

11/7/2012
BY REBECCA CONKLIN KLEIBOEMER
BLADE STAFF WRITER
  • CTY-BOTH-subskuls07p-1

    Matt Feasel, left, Perrysburg Schools' treasurer, and Rachel Johnson monitor election results during a Levy Watch Party at the Holiday Inn French Quarter in Perrysburg.

    THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
    Buy This Image

  • Matt Feasel, left, Perrysburg Schools' treasurer, and Rachel Johnson monitor election results during a Levy Watch Party at the Holiday Inn French Quarter in Perrysburg.
    Matt Feasel, left, Perrysburg Schools' treasurer, and Rachel Johnson monitor election results during a Levy Watch Party at the Holiday Inn French Quarter in Perrysburg.

    By a 51-49 percent margin Tuesday, voters in the Perrysburg Exempted Village School District approved a large, incremental levy and staved off more than $6 million in cuts to staff, programming, and operations.

    “We certainly appreciate the support of the community,” Superintendent Thomas Hosler said at a results-watch party organized by levy supporters at the J. Patrick’s pub in the Holiday Inn French Quarter.

    The 13.15-mill levy will generate $10 million in the first year. The tax will increase to an estimated 14.4 mills in the second year, 15.7 mills in the third year, and 17 mills in the fourth and final year.

    The owner of a home valued at $200,000 will pay about $813 the first year, then about $72 more a year the next three years.

    The current 9.95-mill levy will expire at the end of 2012.

    Joe Sarnes, a technology integration specialist for the district, said his position would have been eliminated had the levy failed and that he likely would have found himself back in the classroom as an elementary school teacher.

    But, he said, the levy was not about saving jobs and salaries.

    “We’re just trying to teach kids. We’re just trying to make a difference for them,” he said.

    An emergency levy renewal in the Anthony Wayne Local School District was passed by a margin of 62 percent to 38 percent.

    Unofficial ballot results showed the levy passing in Lucas County and in overlapping Wood and Fulton counties.

    The estimated 3.4 mills would generate about $3 million annually for the district over 10 years.

    The owner of a home valued at $100,000 will continue to pay about $104 a year, according to the Lucas County Auditor’s Office.

    Voters in the Ottawa Hills Local School District approved a 2-mill permanent improvement replacement levy over a continuing period. It replaces a 1.5-mill levy that expires at the end of this year and increases by a half-mill.

    The owner of a home valued at $200,000 will pay about $122.50 a year, according to the Lucas County Auditor’s Office.

    Contact Rebecca Conklin Kleiboemer at:

    rconklin@theblade.com

    or 419-356-8786.